JBRARY  OF  THE  THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY 

PRINCETON.  N.  J. 


PRESENTED  BY 

JOm^  C.  TMIS 

BX  8949  VnT  1917    ~ 

Centennial,  Presbytery  of 
Newton 


1817  1917 

CENTENNIAL 

An  Adjourned  Meeting,  in  the 

First  Presbyterian  Church 

Washington,  N.  J. 


The    Historical   Narrative,    Histories 
of  the  Churches  and  other  Data 


^  JUN  21  1941 


ROLL  OF  MINISTERS 
AND  CHURCHES 


James  deHart  liriien Ik-lvidere  First 

Josci)h  D.  Hillman   

Beattystown  and  Mansfield  Second 

Edt^ar  A.  Hamilton Sussex 

Walter  H.  Stone,  Ph.  D Ikdvidere  Second 

Xathaniel  P.  Cronse Stanlio])e 

John  A\\   Hischoff   

Hamburg-  and  X(;rth  Hardyston 

Samuel  I>.  Cooper,  Ph.  D Oxford  First 

J.  Scott  Butt Bloomsbury 

W^illiam  Johnston   Sparta 

Clarence  W.  Rouse Newton 

J.  Newton  Armstrono-,  D.  I) Blairstovvn 

Daniel  H.  Rohrabauoh Stillwater 

Robert  Robinson,  W.  D Asbury 

James  W.  Martyn,  Ph.  D Hackettstown 

James  Moore Phillipsburo-  Westminster 

John  C.  Lane Andover 

Jacob  N.  Wa,2^enhurst    Washington 

Peter  V.  Mead Marksboro 

Wilbur  A.  W^agar Oxford  Second 

Paul  J.  Strohauer Franklin 

James  Fer^^uson Stewartsville 

Hut^h  W' alker Greenwich 

Aui^ustus  C.  Kelloi^o-  .  .   Delaware  and  Knowlton 

R.  Spencer  Youno^ Yellow  Frame 

U'illiam  C.  Perez  .  .  .  ; Branch ville 

James  Douo^herty Harmony 

Michael  l^oth   Alpha  Mao^yar 

A.  J.  Fowlie Musconetconq-  Valley 

A.  N.  Millison Beemerville 


4  THE  PK1^:SP>YTEUY  OF  XKW'I OX 


}^Hnisters  without  changes: 

Robert  White,  H.  R. :  Charles  E.  \'an  Allen. 
D.  D. :  Samuel  Carlile,  T3.  D. :  H.  R. :  John  R.  Ed- 
mondson,  H.  R. ;  William  G.  Westervelt;  Elias 
B.  England;  Isaac  H.  Condit ;  Edwin  C.  Holman  : 
TohnC.  Sharpe,  D.  D.,  EL.  D..  Principal;  Rich- 
ard H.  Huo-hes;  William  B.  Johnson;  Otto  R.  W. 
Klose,  S.  S.  in  Presbytery  of  Eon^  Esland. 

Eoreig"n  Missionaries  : 

Oscar  J.  Hardin,  Beirut,  Syria  ;  Henry  Munro 
Bruen,  Taiku,  Korea;  Charles  E.  Phillips,  Pyeng 
Yang^,  Korea. 

Vacant  Churches ; 

Great  ^^leadows,  Phillipsburo-  Eirst,  Eafayette. 
A\'antaoe  Eirst. 

Officers  of  Presbytery  and  Centennial  Committee 

Officers  of  Presbytery  : 

AToderator Rev.  William  C.  Perez 

Stated  Clerk  Rev.  James  Aloore 

Permanent  Clerk  ....  Rev.  Auo^ustus  C.  Kelloo^s: 

Centennial  Committee : 

Rev.  E  H.  Condit Chairman 

Rev.  AV.  C.  Perez Secretary 

Rev.  James  Moore.        Rev.  J.  W.  Hartyn,  Ph.  !.). 
l\e\-.  J.  X.  A\^aoenhurst. 

Elders ; 

\V.  \V.  Woodward Newton 

Theodore  llnsman   Bh^omsbury 

S.  P.   B)Owers AVashini>ton 


THK  IMJKSI'.VTKltV  OF  XKWTOX  .") 

MORNING  SESSION 

Moderator  Presiding 

10.30 — Presbytery  Constituted  \\'ith  Prayer 

Sinoin^:: — Xn.  345.  "P)lest  P)e  the  Tie  That 
Binds" 

Formation  of  Roll 

Report  of  Committee  on  Arrans^ements 

Rev.  J.  X.  W'ai^enlnirst 

Sinoinq- — Jubilee    Hymn   of   Semi-Centen- 
nial 

Solo Miss  Bess  Johnston 

The  Lord's  Supper — 

Administered  by  Rev.  Charles  E.  A^an  Allen 

Sin^S^ing — X'o.  232, 

"In  the  Cross  of  Christ  T  Glor\" 

1 1.30— Historical  X^arrative.  Miss  ^[aro^aret  Clyde 

Sino^in^- — X'^o.  117, 

"Our  God,  Our  Help  In  A^es  Past" 

12.30 — Recess 

AFTERNOON    SESSION 
Rev.  I.  H.  Condit,  Presiding 

2.30 — Convene 

Sin^g^in.c^ — Ode  used  at  Semi-Centennial 
2.45 — Greetinos 

The  Synod 

Presbytery  of  Xew  Brunswick 

Presbvtery  of  Elizabeth 


fi  TIIK  PJiESJl^TEin'  OF  XKWTOX 

Presbytery  of  Morris  and  Orange 
Presl)yterv  of  Lehic^h 
Solo Miss  I'ess  Jolinston 

345 — Address 

IVesident  AlacCracken,  Lafayette  Cc^lleoe 

4.1:; — Idle  ]'resbA-ter\'  and  Education 

Dr.  \\\  H.  Vail 

5.00— Recess 

EVENING    SESSION 
Moderator  Presiding 

7.30- — Convene 

Singing' — Xo.  58(j 

"Come,  Thon  Fount  of  Every  Blessing" 
Scripture 
Prayer 
Choir 

Offering — vSynodical  Home  Missions 
Choir 
Centennial  Address 

Rev.  J.  Ross  Stevenson,  D.  D. 
Singing — Xo.  464,  "Rock  of  Ages" 
Committee  on  Resolutions 
Singing — X'^o.  304, 

"The  Church's  One  Foundation" 
lienediction 
AX'ednesda}',  9  a.  m. — Presbytery  will  convene 
for  transaction  of  business. 


THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  XK\\  TON  7 

Semi-Centennial  Hymns  Used  at  Centennial 
Celebration 

Jl'lULEE  HYMX 

(Written  for,  and  suno-  at,  Semi-Centennial) 

Tune — Regent  Square,  Xo.  90  Hymnal. 
Come,  thou  gracious  King  of  Glor}', 

In  this  hour  of  juhilee; 
Whilst  we  tell  the  grateful  story 

Of  past  mercies  wrought  by  Thee, 
lie  thou  present  (be  thou  present), 

liid  us  now  thy  glory  see. 

l*)OW  thine  ear,  God  of  our  Fathers, 
To  our  glowing  songs  of  praise. 

Warming  still  as  mem'ry  gathers 

Grateful  themes  from  other  days  ; 

Lord,  we  praise  thee  (Lord,  we  praise  thee), 
Vov  thy  grace  in  b}'gone  davs. 

Thanks  that  o'er  these  vales  Thou'st  planted 

Many  a  fair  and  fruitful  vine : 
Glorious  rain  and  sunshine  granted. 

Hedged  them  round  and  called  them  Thine, 
(lathering  from  them  (gathering  from  them) 

Clustering  grapes  and  generous  wine. 

May  this  vineyard  ever  flourish. 

May  abundant  fruits  be  given; 
Gracious  Lord,  these  churches  nourish, 

With  the  light  and  dew  of  Heaven  ; 
Till  in  glory  (till  in  glory), 

"Jubilee !"  they  shout  in  Heaven. 

—Rev.  D.  X.  Tunkin,  D.  D. 


THE  PRESBYT]<:KY  of  XKW  J'OX 

ODE 

(AX'rittcn  for,  and  simo-  at.  Semi-Centennial) 
Tune — Federal  Street,  Xo.  197  Hymnal. 

Welcome,  O  God,  of  sovereign  grace. 
To  celebrate  Thy  worthy  praise ; 

\\'ith  joy  to  bow  before  Thy  throne, 

Thv  mercies  trace,  Thv  (goodness  own. 


Thy  servants  of  that  early  day 

From  earthly  scenes  have  passed  away  ; 
Each  to  his  happy  home  above. 

Where  all  is  peace  and  joy  and  love. 


TUit  Thou  hast  called  us  in  their  stead 
To  glory  in  our  living  Head, 

And  with  Thy  people  now  to  meet 
With  jo}^  before  the  mercy-seat. 


Here  in  Thy  house,  sustained  by  Thee, 
On  this,  our  joyful  jubilee; 

We  would,  with  one  united  voice. 
In  Thy  unchanging-  love  rejoice. 


C)h,  what  a  pleasure  thus  to  meet 
And  bow  before  the  mercy-seat. 

To  pure  devotion  freely  given, 

\\'ith  hope  of  brighter  joys  in  Heaven. 

—Rev.  T.  R.  Condit. 


MINUTES  OF  THE  PROCEEDINGS 

OF  THE 

CENTENNIAL  CELEBRATION 
PRESBYTERY  OF  NEWTON 

Washin^S^ton,  X.  J.,  Xovember  20th,  1917. 

The  Presbytery  of  X'ewton  met  in  the  First 
P'resbyterian  Church  of  Washington,  at  10.30  A. 
]\[.  in  accordance  with  its  adjournment  to  cele- 
brate the  looth  anniversary  of  the  organization 
of  Presbytery. 

Presbytery  was  called  to  order  and  constituted 
with  prayer  by  Rev.  William  C.  Perez,  the  mod- 
erator.   "l>lest  l)e  the  Tie  That  Binds"  was  sung. 

llie  Roll  was  formed  and  is  as  follows: 

MINISTERS 

Charles  E.  VaiiAlleii,  D.  D.,  James  Moore, 

Edgar  A,  iianiilton,  Wilbur  A.  Wagar. 

Walter  H.  Stone,  Ph.  D.,  Paul   J.   Strohauer, 

Joseph  U.  Hillman,  James  Ferguson, 

Isaac  H.  Condit.  William  C.  Perez, 

John  W.  Bischoff,  James  Dougherty, 

Samuel  B.  Cooper.  Ph.  D.,  Albert  J.  Fowlie*, 

J.  Scott  Butt.  D.  D.,  John  C.  Sharpe,  D.  D., 

Clarence  W.  Rouse.  Robert   Robinson,  B.  D., 

J.  Newton  Armstrong,  D.  D.,  James  W.  Martyn,  Ph.  D., 

Daniel  H.  Rohrabaugh,  Augustus  C.  Kellogg. 


10  1111^:  PRESr>YTERY  OF  XICWTOX 

Elders  representincr  respectively  the  churches 
named : 

Andover .lohii   ^^^  Tlioiiipsoii 

Asbiiry John    A.    Hulsizer 

Beemerville Barrett    A.    VaiiAuken 

Beividere   2iid James    Depue 

Bloom^burj Theodore     Tiusinaii 

Branchville Irving    X.    Roe 

Hackettstown Wilberforce    G.    Sutphin 

Harmony Amzi    ]\liller 

Marksborro \\illiam    A.    Kerr 

Miisconeteonfi-    Valley Absalom    Apgar 

Xewton ^^'illiam   ^V.   Woodward 

Oxford  1st Daniel  8.  Spangenberg 

Oxford    2nd E.    Henrv    Ward 

Phillipsbnrg    1st Robert    P/  Howell 

Phillipsburg.   \A'estminster Floyd   E.   Dreisbach 

Stewartsville ^^-J.    Cline    Boyer 

Stillwater J.   Hampton   Roy 

Sussex John    D.    Simmons 

Washington. Frank   P.    McKinstry.   M.  1). 

The  Committee  on  Arrangements  recommend- 
ed a  program  to  be  followed  in  the  celebration. 
The  recommendation  was  adopted  and  the  pro- 
gram was  observed  as  set  forth  in  these  minutes. 

An  order  was  drawn  on  the  treasurer  for 
$225.00  in  favor  of  the  Centennial  committee. 

Rev.  Robert  Robinson,  B.  D.,  Rev.  Walter  H. 
Stone,  Ph.  D.,  and  Elder  John  W.  Thompson 
were  appointed  a  Committee  on  Resolutions. 

The  following  ministers,  being  present,  were 
invited  to  sit  as  corresponding  members. 

X'ame.  Presbytery. 

George  C.   Pollock.  D.  D.   St.  Cloud 

Theron    Brittain Hudson 

Baker  Smith.  D.  D. Morris  and  Orange 

George  S.  M.  Doremus Morris  and  Orange 

Mehran  H.  Looloian Morris  and  Orange 

Nelson  B.  Chester Newark 

August   W.    Sonne,   D.  I).    New   Brunswick 


THE  P1{KSBVT1:KV  of  XEWTOX  11 

Marshall    Haniiigtoii    Xew  Biunswiek 

George  H.  Ingram  Xew  Briiiis\vick 

Herbert   K.   England   Elizabeth 

Courtland  P.  Butler.  D.  D.   Monmouth 

Horace    D.    Sassaman Lehigh 

James    Robinson    Lehigh 

J.   Boss   Stevenson,   D.   D.   Baltimore 

The  following-  Elders,  from  churches  without 
the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery  named  in  each  case, 
were  heartily  welcomed  in  their  attendance  at  the 
Centennial  celebration. 

Elias    Vosseller Xew    Brunswick 

Edmund    Horton Elizabeth 

Thomas  J.  Arnold Jersey   City 

William  H.   Vail.  M.  D.   Xewark 

Prof.  William   8.   Hall Lehigh 

The  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  supper,  adminis- 
tered by  Rev.  Charles  E.  Van  Allen,  D.  D.,  Mod- 
erator of  Presbytery  at  semi-centennial,  assisted 
by  Elders — W.  W.  Woodward,  W.  G.  Sutphin,  J. 
H.  Roy,  W.  A.  Kerr,  J.  C.  Boyer,  Irving  N.  Roe, 
S.  P.  Bowsers  and  J.  A.  Hulsizer  was  then  ob- 
served. 

Miss  Margaret  H.  Clyde,  daughter  of  the  late 
John  C.  Clyde,  D.  D.,  read  the  "Historical  Narra- 
tive." 

Presbytery  now  took  recess  for  lunch. 

Closed  with  praver  bv  Rev.  Georg-e  C.  Pollock, 
D.  D. 

Presbytery  reconvened  at  2.30  P.  M.,  Rev. 
Isaac  H.  Condit  presiding. 

Opened  Avith  praver  bv  Rev.  Baker  Smith, 
-D.  D. 

Rev.  Xelson  B.  Chester,  Moderator  of  Synod, 
Rev.  Courtland  P.  Butler,  Rev.  George  H.  Ing- 
ram and  Elder  Thomas  J.  Arnold  extended  the 
greeting-s  of  the  Synod  of  Xew  Jersey. 


12  THE  PKESIJY'I'EKY  OF  XEWTOX 

Rev.  G.  H.  Ino-ram,  Rev.  A.  W.  Sonne,  D.  D.. 
Rev.  ■Marshall  Harrini^ton  and  Elder  Elias  Yos- 
seller  brought  greetings  from  the  Presbytery  of 
Xew  Brunswick.  Rev.  H.  K.  England  and  Elder 
Edmund  Horton  conveyed  the  greetings  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Elizabeth,  while  Rev.  G.  S.  M. 
Doremus  did  the  same  for  the  Presbytery  of  Mor- 
ris and  Orange  and  the  Presbytery  of  Lehigh 
sent  her  greetings  with  Rev.  James  Robinson. 

President  John  H.  ^lacCracken  and  Prof.  A\^il- 
liam  S.  Hall  brought  the  greetings  of  Lafayette 
College,  and  President  MacCracken  gave  an  ad- 
dress on  "Christian  Education." 

William  H.  Vail.  M.  D.,  delivered  an  address 
on  "l)lair  Academy,  Its  History  and  Its  Relation 
to  the  Presbytery  of  Xewton."  Time  was  ex- 
tended 15  minutes  to  hear  Rev.  Theron  Brittain 
and  Rev.  George  C.  Pollock,  U.  D.,  who  had  both 
been  present  at  the  50th  anniversary. 

Recess  was  now  taken  for  supper. 

Closed  with  prayer  by  Rev.  Edgar  A.  Hamil- 
ton. 

Presbytery  reconvened  at  7.30  P.  M.,  opened 
with  ])ra}'er  by  the  Moderator,  who  jjresided  at 
this  session. 

A  letter  was  read  from  Rev.  J.  Wilbur  Chap- 
man, D.  D.,  Moderator  of  the  General  Assembly 
of  the  I'resbyterian  church  in  the  U.  S.  A.,  giving 
reasons  and  regrets  for  his  inability  to  be  present 
and  extending  his  congratulations  to  Presbvterv. 


THE  PKESIJVTEHY  OF  NEWTON  13 

The  letter  was  received  and  the  stated  clerk 
was  directed  to  acknowledg^e  the  receipt  of  same. 

Rev.  I.  Alstyne  Blauvelt,  D.  D.,  of  Presbytery  of 
Elizabeth,  also  sent  a  letter,  which  was  read,  ex- 
pressing his  regret  at  his  inability  to  be  present, 
and  letters  from  Rev.  I.  Manch  Chambers,  D.  D., 
of  Synod's  delegation  and  Rev.  Samuel  Guy 
Snowden,  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick,  were 
received. 

After  devotional  services  consisting  of  singing, 
reading  the  Scriptures  and  prayer,  an  ofifering 
was  lifted  for  Synodical  Home  Missions,  which 
amounted  to  $21.20. 

Rev.  J.  Ross  Stevenson,  D.  D.,  L.  L.  D.,  Presi- 
dent of  Princeton  Theological  Seminary,  then  de- 
livered the  Centennial  address  on  "The  Gospel 
the  Need  of  the  World." 

The  Committee  on  Resolutions  reported  re- 
commending as  follows — 

1.  We  recognize  the  ,good  hand  of  God  upon 
us  this  day,  and  call  upon  our  souls  and  all  that  is 
within  us  to  bless  the  Lord  for  all  his  mercy  and 
loving  kindness  continued  to  our  Presbytery  dur- 
ing the  one  hundred  years  of  its  existence. 

2.  A\'e  record  our  indebtedness  to  Miss  ]\Iar- 
garet  H.  Clyde  and  express  by  a  rising  vote  our 
hearty  appreciation  of  the  splendid  resume  of  the 
history  of  the  Presbytery  she  has  given  us. 

3.  We  welcome  with  us  the  visiting  brethren 
who  have  brought  to  us  the  greetings  of  the 
Synod  of  New  Jersey,  and  the  neighboring  Pres- 
byteries   formerly    parts    of    Newton    Presbytery, 


14  THE  PrJ<:SBYTEllV  OF  XEWTOX 

and  make  special  mention  of  the  splendid  ad- 
dresses of  President  J.  H.  ]\IacCracken  of  Lafa- 
yette College,  President  J-  Ross  Stevenson,  of 
Princeton  Theological  Seminary,  and  Elder  W. 
H.  Vail,  M.  D.,  of*  Newark. 

4.  -We  rejoice  in  the  presence  with  ns,  of  Rev. 
Charles  E.  Van  Allen,  D.  D.,  Rev.  George  C.  Pol- 
lock, D.  D.,  and  Rev.  Theron  Brittain,  Avho  were 
present  also  at  the  semi-centennial. 

5.  A\  e  gratefully  record  our  appreciation  of 
the  organist  and  choir  of  the  church,  who  have 
so  ably  led  our  service  of  song,  and  of  the  beauti- 
ful solos  rendered  by  ]\Iiss  Bess  Johnson, 

6.  We  extend,  by  a  rising  vote,  our  thanks  to 
the  Pastor  and  Session  of  the  church,  our  hosts 
on  this  occasion,  and  especially  to  the  ladies  for 
their  excellent  and  bountiful  hospitality. 

7.  W^e  register  our  unfaltering  fealty  to  the 
faith  and  service  which  have  characterized  our 
Presbytery  in  the  years  gone  by  :  and,  as  we  enter 
upon  our  second  century,  in  the  name  of  our  God 
we  lift  up  our  banners,  and  in  humble  reliance 
upon  Him,  pledge  ourselves  to  engage  with  all 
our  might  in  the  larger  duties  awaiting  us  in  this 
new  day. 

The  report  was  received  and  the  resi^lutions 
were  ado})ted. 

Presbytery  then  adjourned  to  meet  for  busi- 
ness \\'ednesday  morning,  Xov.  21st,  at  9  o'clock. 

Closed  with  jjrayer  and  benediction  by  the 
^Moderator. 


THK  PKESinTEliV  OF  XKWTOX  1.') 

ABSTRACT   OF  THE  ADDRESS  OF 
Dr.  Wm.   H.  Vail 

]\Ir.    Moderator,    ^lembers   of  the    Presbytery   of 
X'ewton,  and  Friends : 

It  is  with  unfeigned  pleasure  that  I  stand  be- 
fore this  assembly  and  attempt  to  portray  before 
you,  "The  History  of  Blair  Academy,  its  place, 
influence,  and  immediate  connection  with  the 
Presbytery." 

This  year  marks  the  Centennial  of  Newton 
Presbytery.  Next  year  Blair  Academy  will  have 
rounded  out  her  three  score  years  and  ten. 

Eighty-five  years  ago,  Paulina,  one  mile  from 
Blairstown,  had  a  school.  Mr.  Blair,  who  was 
jealous  for  the  good  name  and  pjogress  of  Blairs- 
town, decided  that  it  should  have  equal  if  not  su- 
perior advantages  to  Paulina.  He  conceived  the 
idea  of  starting  a  parochial  school.  So  in  1848 
there  was  erected  upon  land  donated  by  Mr.  Blair 
the  starting  point  of  Blair  Academy,  in  the  shape 
of  a  stone  building,  twenty-four  feet  by  forty- 
eight,  one  story  high.  For  some  years  it  was 
called  the  Parochial  School,  and  in  a  few  years  a 
wing  was  added  at  each  end  to  the  original  build- 
ing. These  wings  have  since  been  removed  and 
the  original  building  still  graces  the  campus  of 
the  Academv  and  is  known  and  used  as  the  Mu- 
sic Hall. 

From  its  inception  the  school  has  been  distinc- 
tively religious  in  character,  but  by  no  means  sec- 
tarian. At  first  the  school  was  under  the  direct 
charge  and  supervision  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  of  lUairstown.  and  afterward  became  the 


l(i  THE  PRESBYTEPvY  OF  XEWTOX 

property  of  the  Presbytery  of  Newton,  by  a  cer- 
tain Deed  of  Trust  in  1870. 

Blair  Academy  has  had  nine  principals,  dur- 
ing- its  seventy  years  existence,  viz. : 

Isaiah  AV.  Condict.  ^I.  D.,  1848  to  1849. 

Rev.  James  G.  ^loore,  1849  ^^  1852. 

Rev.  J.  Kirby  Davis.  1852  to  1854. 

Mr.  J.  Henry  Johnson,  1854  to  1861. 

Mr.  Simmons  S.  Stevens,  from  1861  to  T873. 

In  1898  the  Trustees  called  the  Rev.  John  C. 
Sharpe,  D.  D.,  to  take  chars^e  of  the  school,  and 
he  is  still  with  us.  The  continued  progress  of  the 
Academy  under  his  extended  and  efficient  leader- 
shi])  evidences  the  wisdom  of  the  choice. 

In  1899  ^"  additional  story  was  placed  upon 
Insley  Hall,  and  the  whole  building  most  thor- 
oughly renovated.  It  was  in  this  year  that  Mr, 
John  I.  Blair,  the  founder  and  benefactor  of  Blair 
Academy,  passed  from  the  scenes  of  his  earthly 
labors  to  his  reward,  at  the  ripe  age  of  ninety- 
seven  w^ell  rounded  years :  but  his  son,  Mr.  De- 
Witt  Clinton  pjlair,  continued  his  benefactions 
with  a  most  liberal  hand,  as  has  been  in  evidence 
almost  yearly  since  his  father's  departure. 

In  1900  the  front  half  of  Recitation  Hall  was 
erected,  at  the  expense  of  the  school,  at  a  cost  of 
$35,000.  In  1901  followed  the  beautiful  and  com- 
modious piazza  for  Insley  Hall,  the  generous  gift 
of  y[r.  DeWitt  Clinton  Blair. 

In  1902  was  erected  the  addition  to  the  Gymna- 
sium in  which  was  installed  the  swimming  pool, 
with  the  shower  baths  and  lockers,  again  the  gift 
of  Mr.  Blair. 


THE  PUESBYTERY  OF  XE^VT()X  17 

In  1904  Air.  DeWitt  C.  Blair  added  the  other 
half  to  Recitation  Hall,  which  has  since  been 
called  Clinton  Hall  in  his  honor.  It  is  in  this 
Hall  that  so  many  of  the  activities  of  the  school 
center.  This  same  3^ear  the  name  of  the  school 
was  changed  from  Blair  Presbyterial  Academy  to 
Blair  Academy,  in  accordance  with  the  recom- 
mendation of  the  Trustees  and  the  sanction  of  the 
Presbytery :  thus  assuming  a  simple  short  uni- 
form name.  At  the  same  time  the  Academy  has 
lost  none  of  its  religious  characteristics. 

In  1912  came  the  erection  of  A\^est  Hall,  for  the 
accommodation  of  the  smaller  boys,  to  the  num- 
ber of  35  or  40.  This  building  supplied  the  long 
felt  need  of  being  able  to  segregate  the  smaller 
students  and  providing  better  for  their  care  under 
a  special  matron. 

The  enlargement  of  the  Campus,  with  the  ath- 
letic field  far  to  the  west,  and  the  increased  num- 
ber of  students  necessitated  the  placing  of  the 
Gymnasium  on  the  other  side  of  the  Campus,  and 
to  this  end  in  1914-15,  Mr.  D.  C.  Blair  caused  to 
be  erected  what  proved  to  be  his  last  gift  to  the 
Academy,  the  magnificent  Gymnasium.  It  will 
be  specifically  remembered  as  his  parting  gift  and 
will  for  many  years  serve  the  school  in  its  dual 
capacity,  for  the  exercises  in  connection  with  the 
gymnastic  apparatus  in  one  half,  and  the  basket 
ball  apartment  on  the  other,  while  the  lower  story 
contains  a  most  beautiful  swimming  pool,  and 
the  ample  supply  of  lockers,  and  round  the  upper 
story  circles  the  track,  15  laps  making  a  mile. 
The  acquisition  of  this  spacious  gymnasium  re- 
leased the  old  gymnasium  and  that  by  the  gener- 
osity of  the  Blairs  was  immediately  transformed 
into  a  dormitorv  for  the  Senior  Class. 


18  TTIK  Prvi:SinTKKV  OF  XK\\  TOX 

In  1915  the  Academy  was  changed  into  a  school 
for  boys  only,  after  the  fullest  gonsideration  by 
the  Board  of  Trustees,  with  the  approbation  of 
Presbytery.  The  mere  fact  that  better  work  can 
be  accomplished  with  each  sex  by  itself  is  suffi- 
cient argument  for  the  change;  as  long  as  the  Di- 
rectors continue  to  provide  for  the  education  of 
the  daughters  of  the  pastors  of  the  Presbyter}^  in 
carefully  selected  schools. 

Having  thus  given  a  brief  summary  of  the  his- 
tory of  Blair  Academy,  which  we  are  proud  to 
consider  the  peer  of  any  preparatory  school  in 
the  land,  it  only  remains  for  us  to  say  a  word  re- 
specting the  "place,  influence,  and  immediate 
connection  that  Blair  Academy  sustains  with  the 
Presbytery  of  Newton."  The  Academy  should 
always  occupy  a  most  honored  niche  in  the  an- 
nals of  the  Presbytery ;  the  Presbytery  should 
always  cherish  the  interests  of  the  Academy  as 
second  only  to  the  spiritual  interests  of  the  mem- 
bers of  their  flocks.  The  interests  of  the  Aca- 
demy and  the  Presbytery  should  and  must  be  one 
and  the  same  ;  their  influence  cognate  and  insepa- 
rable :  and  their  connection  as  immediate  and  in- 
timate as  that  of  members  of  the  familv  circle  it- 
self. 

jNIay  both  go  hand  in  hand  in  the  service  of 
their  common  Lord  and  Master,  helping  to  hasten 
the  good  time  coming  when  ignorance  and  super- 
stition shall  vanish  from  the  land  as  vanish  the 
mists  of  night  before  the  Star  of  day;  and  His 
name  shall  be  one  and  Plis  praises  one  from  the 
rivers  to  the  end  of  the  earth.  Such  is  our  prayer 
ever. 


THE  PRESUVTRRV  OF  XEWTOX  11) 

HISTORICAL  NARRATIVE 
Miss  Margaret  H.  Clyde 

FOREWORD. 

To  the  many  who  have  hel])cd  in  the  prepara- 
tion of  these  historical  sketches,  the  compiler  ten- 
ders sincere  thanks,  l^o  cover  in  brief  space  one 
hundred  years  of  time,  means  to  select  sparingly 
from  a  wealth  of  material.  If  therefore  many 
things  of  interest  have  been  omitted,  may  the 
fault  be  attributed  to  the  limitations  of  the  print- 
ed page  and  not  to  the  choice  of  the  historian.  If. 
on  the  other  hand,  personal  allusions  have  been 
included  which  form  no  integral  part  of  the  Pres- 
bytery's history  as  a  whole,  it  is  because  such  al- 
lusions, by  their  very  evanescence,  would  almost 
surely,  if  not  recorded  here,  be  forever  lost  to  his- 
tory. 

The  chief  sources  of  information  have  been  a 
manuscript  prepared  by  the  late  Rev.  Dr.  John  C. 
Clyde,  representing  the  labor  of  years,  the  ad- 
dress of  the  Rev.  Dr.  David  X.  Junkin  at  the 
Semi-Centennial  of  the  Presbytery,  a  few  printed 
church  histories,  and  the  individual  reports  sent 
in  from  the  several  churches.  To  those  whose 
duty  it  was  to  supply  these  latter  and  who  made 
them  so  accurate  and  complete,  the  thanks  of  the 
Presbytery  as  well  as  of  its  histcM'ian  are  due. 
To  Rev.  \\m.  C.  Perez,  whose  untiring  zeal  in  the 
gathering  of  statistics  made  these  sketches  possi- 
ble, belongs  the  credit  of  bringing  the  work  to  a 
successful  conclusion. 

M.  H.  C. 


20  THE  PIJKSBYTEEY  OF  XEWTOX 

At  the  sessions  of  the  Synod  of  New  York  and 
Xew  Jersey,  held  in  the  city  of  New  York  in  Oc- 
tober, 1 817,  there  was  presented  an  application 
from  the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick  for  a  di- 
vision of  that  Presbytery.  This  resulted  in  the 
formation  of  a  new  Presbytery,  formally  consti- 
tuted November  18,  181 7,  in  the  Mansfield 
Woodhouse  church,  now  A^^ashinoton,  including- 
as  its  territory  the  country  bounded  by  a  line 
runnino^  from  the  Delaware,  at  a  point  a  little 
north  of  Lambertville,  and  sweeping  in  an  irregu- 
lar circuit  through  the  counties  of  Hunterdon, 
^lorris  and  Sussex  to  the  State  of  New  York,  and 
extending  from  this  line  to  the  Pocono  mountains 
in  Pennsylvania.  All  the  state  of  New  Jersey 
north  of  this  line,  together  with  most  of  the 
county  of  Northampton  and  all  that  of  Monroe  in 
Pennsylvania  was  embraced  in  this  territory, 
which  was  called  Newton  Presbytery. 

There  were  present  at  that  first  meeting  of 
Newton  Presbytery,  one  hundred  years  ago,  the 
following  ministers :  John  Boyd,  David  Barclay, 
Holloway  A\\  Hunt,  Joseph  Campbell,  Jacob 
Kirkpatrick,  Joseph  L.  Shafer,  Horace  Galpin, 
Jacob  R.  Castner,  and  David  Bishop. 

Rev.  Mr.  BoatI  was  chosen  moderator,  and  the 
Rev.  Jacob  Kirkpatrick,  clerk. 

The  churches  composing  it  were :  Knowlton, 
Marksboro,  Newton,  Hackettstown,  German  Val- 
ley, Fox  Hill,  Lamington,  Haskingridge,  Bethle- 
hem, Kingwood,  Alexandria,  Greenwich,  Har- 
mony. Oxford,  Mansfield,  Pleasant  Grove,  Flem- 
ington,  Amwell  First,  and  Amwell  Second,  in 
Xew  Jersey.  In  Pennsvlvania,  Easton,  Lower 
Mt.  Bethel,  Upper  :\[t.  "llethel,  and  SmithfieM, 
twentv-four  in  all. 


THE  PRESBYTERY  OE  XE\VTOX  21 

Oct.  i6,  1818,  Amwell  First  United  was  organ- 
ized, also  Scott's  Mountain  the  sa'me  year,  and 
New  Village  in  1819.  In  1821  the  church  of  Al- 
len township  was  received  from  the  Presbytery 
of  Philadelphia,  and  as  there  was  no  Presbytery 
occupying  the  territory  between  Allen  township 
and  the  Conynham  valley,  the  Presbytery  of 
Xewton  also  took  possession  of  that  wide  region. 

Stillwater  First,  originally  Dutch  Reformed, 
applied  for  admission  to  the  Presbytery  in  1822, 
and  after  being  modified  according  to  Presbyter- 
ian Government,  was  received  in  1823.  This 
church  has  the  distinction  of  being  the  first  to 
])rovide  a  manse  for  its  pastor. 

Clinton  was  organized  June  20,  and  Strouds- 
burg  in  August  of  1827;  Stillwater  Second  in 
1828.  The  latter  was  dissolved,  however,  in  1853, 
the  location  being  unfortunate.  Danville  was  or- 
ganized Nov.  3,  1831. 

In  October,  1832,  the  Synod  transferred  to  the 
Presbytery  of  Flizabethtown  the  congregation  of 
Raskingridge  and  Lamington,  for  the  greater 
convenience  of  those  churches  in  attending  Pres- 
bytery. 

Milford  was  organized  March  25,  1833;  Am- 
well, June  6,  1834;  Belvidere,  whose  members 
had  worshipped  chiefly  at  Oxford,  was  organized 
November  25,  1834;  Durham,  March  23,  1836; 
and  Musconetcong  \^alle}',  a  colony  from  Mans- 
field, on  June  13,  1837. 

In  the  same  }ear  following  an  act  of  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly  declaring  certain  synods  not  con- 
stituent parts  of  the  FVesbyterian  Church  owing 
to  irregularity  in  their  organization,  and  direct- 
ing such  churches  as  were  regularh-  organized  to 


•I-2  THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  XJ<:\YT(n' 

apply  to  the  nearest  Presbytery,  the  churches  of 
Moscow  and  Caledonia,  in  the  Synod  of  Genesee, 
were  received  and  were  for  a  time  connected 
with  Newton  Presbytery.  In  1839  the  Presby- 
tery of  Raritan  was  created,  takin,^  away  the 
church  of  Durham  in  Pennsylvania,  and  all  the 
churches  south  of  the  Musconetcon^s:  mountain. 
Durham,  German  Valley,  and  Fox  Hill,  w^ere, 
however,  restored  the  next  year. 

Blairstown  obtained  a  o^rant  for  an  organiza- 
tion with  the  condition  that  it  be  connected  with 
Knowlton,  of  which  chiefly  it  was  a  colony,  and 
the  organization  w^as  effected  October  19,  1840. 

In  1843  by  act  of  the  General  Assembly  the 
churches  of  JNIauch  Chunk,  Beaver  Meadow, 
Summit  Hill,  and  Conyngham  were  detached  and 
constituted  with  other  churches  into  the  Presby- 
tery of  Luzerne.  The  history  of  these  churches 
testifies  to  the  activity  of  the  old-time  minister. 
For  missionary  zeal  early  showed  itself  in  the 
Presbytery. 

Up  to  Nov.  I  St,  1835,  there  was  no  Presbyter- 
ian church  in  the  great  coal  fields  of  Pennsylva- 
nia north  of  Pottsville.  In  1833  Dr.  David  X. 
Junkin.  then  a  student  in  the  Seminary,  offered  to 
spend  a  vacation  laboring  in  the  vicinity  of 
Mauch  Chunk.  His  offer  was  not  at  that  time 
accepted.  But  in  1835  a  resident  of  Mauch 
Chunk,  a  'blacksmith,  becoming  interested  in  the 
matter  of  personal  religion,  wrote  to  Dr.  Gray  of 
Easton  for  counsel.  Their  correspondence  re- 
sulted in  his  coming  to  Easton  to  be  received  into 
church  membership,  and  it  was  through  his  ef- 
forts upon  returning  to  Mauch  Chunk  that  a  de- 
sire for  a  church  organization  there  was  aroused. 
A  request  was  sent  to  Presbytery  asking  for  the 


TUK  PKKSBYTl'lKV  OF  XEWTOX  23 

gospel  and  for  a  church  organization.  A  commit- 
tee was  appointed  to  go  to  ]^Iauch  Chunk  and,  if 
the  wa}'  were  clear,  to  organize  there  a  church. 
Of  this  committee  Dr.  Junkin  and  elder  Enoch 
Green  of  Easton  arrived  on  the  last  day  of  Octo- 
jjer,  1835.  held  services  that  night,  and  on  the 
next  day,  Xov.  ist,  organized  a  church  of  twenty- 
four  members,  ordaining  three  elders,  of  whom 
the  earnest  and  consecrated  blacksmith  was  one. 
On  Dec.  6  Dr.  Junkin  again  visited  ^lauch 
Chunk,  accompanied  by  his  classmate.  Rev.  Rich- 
ard AX'ebster,  and  there  administered  the  Lord's 
Supper — the  first  dispensed  by  Presbyterian 
hands  in  the  Carbon  coal  fields.  Mr.  Webster 
immediately  entered  upon  missionary  labors 
there  which  ended  only  with  his  death  on  June 
19.  1856.  ]^Iany  churches  were  organized  by  him, 
which  can  be  claimed  as  the  children  of  Xewton 
Presbytery,  and  which  acknowledged  allegiance 
to  her  until  in  1843  they  were  absorbed  into  the 
newly-constituted  Presbytery  of  I^uzerne. 

August  8,  1848,  a  second  Presbyterian  church 
was  organized  in  Easton,  This,  however,  was 
dissolved  at  its  own  request  in  185 1,  its  members 
joining  either  the  Dutch  Reformed,  the  First 
Presbyterian,  or  the  newly-organized  Brainerd 
church  of  that  city.  Belvidere  Second  was  organ- 
ized August  29,  1849;  Stewartsville,  a  colony 
from  Greenwich.  May  29,  1850:  and  Catasauqua 
on  the  /th  of  the  same  month. 

In  185 1,  by  act  of  the  Assembly,  the  territory 
of  the  Presbytery  was  diminished  by  the  exten- 
sion of  the  Second  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia,  to 
include  all  churches  west  of  the  Delaware  and 
south  of  Martin's  Creek.     This  was  in  order  to 


24  THK  mESBYTKUY  OF  XEWT(  )X 

place  Lafayette  College,  which  had  been  taken 
under  the  ecclesiastical  control  of  the  Synod  of 
Philadelphia,  within  the  limits  of  that  Synod. 

The  First  Church  of  Phillipsburo-  w-as  organ- 
ized.  Dec.  13,  1853:  ^Mansfield  Second,  Alay  i, 
1855;  Lafayette,  1856.  Pleasant  Grove  entered 
the  Roll  of  Presbytery  with  name  of  pastor  H. 
W.  H'unt,  from  the  Presbytery  of  Raritan,  Octo- 
ber 22,  1857.  October  29  of  the  same  year  the 
church  at  Bloomsbury  was  organized. 

April,  1858,  Andover  petitioned  Presbytery  for 
oro^anization,  w^hich  was  granted.  Asbury  was 
organized  Oct.  10,  i860:  Oxford  Second,  May  8, 
1863. 

On  Xovember  19  and  20,  1867,  the  Presbytery 
celebrated  its  fiftieth  anniversary.  Rev.  D.  X. 
Junkin,  D.  D.,  at  this  time  delivered  his  historical 
discourse  from  which  quotations  have  been  made 
from  time  to  time  in  this  present  paper.  The 
same  year  Yellow  Frame  and  ]\Iarksboro  sepa- 
rated into  two  charges.  1866-1869  was  a  time  of 
stringent  financial  conditions,  yet  the  Presbytery 
had  a  wonderful  increase  in  Foreign  and  Home 
Mission  contributions.  In  1868  one  pastor  re- 
])orts  every  male  member  in  the  village  as  at- 
tending prayer-meeting  and  leading  in  prayer. 

In  1868  Upper  Mt.  l>ethel  was  located  at  Wil- 
liamsburgh.  Pa.  Oct.  5,  1869,  a  petition  was 
granted  for  a  church  at  Montana.  It  appears  on 
the  roll  of  Presbytery  April  12,  1870.  Tlie  same 
year  there  was  a  church  or  mission  at  Allamuchy 
connected  with  the  Andover  field. 

At  this  time  the  questi(~)n  of  re-union  between 
the  C)ld  and  Xew  Schools  was  being  discussed. 
Dr.  Junkin  says:  'Tn  the  great  doctrinal  struggle 


THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  XE\YTON  25 

of  1834-8,  this  Presbytery  bore  itself  with  marked 
decision,  wisdom,  and  firmness.  When  the  prac- 
tical division  of  the  church,  upon  a  doctrinal  ba- 
sis, was  be.g^un  by  the  General  Assembly  of  1832, 
creating-  a  Presbytery  on  the  principle,  not  of 
g-eographical  extent,  but  of  "elective  affinity," 
this  Presbytery,  in  April,  1834,  denied  their  con- 
stitutional rio^ht  to  create  such  Presbyteries,  and 
sustained  the  Synod  of  Philadelphia  for  dissolv- 
ino^  the  Presbytery  thus  erected  ;  and  from  that 
time  forth  the  Presbyter}-  of  Newton  steadily  ad- 
vocated and  sustained  the  measures  of  reform 
adopted  by  the  Old  School.  She  and  the  Presby- 
tery of  Susquehanna  were  the  only  Presbyteries 

in  the  Synod  that  did  not  hesitate 

and  it  is  believed  that  the  happiest  results  fol- 
lowed the  firmness  and  faithfulness  of  this  Pres- 
bytery       From  first  to  last  this 

Presbytery  marched  in  the  van  of  reform:  and  to 
her  honor  be  it  recorded  that,  at  the  close  of  her 
fiftieth  3^ear,  she  expressed  an  unwillingness  to 
surrender  at  discretion  all  the  fruits  of  her  oreat 
struggles  for  truth  and  order ;  but,  whilst  ex- 
pressing a  love  of  Christian  union,  expressed  a 
wish  that  that  union  might  be  secured  under 
clearer  guarantees  than  those  proposed,  so  that 
truth  and  order  might  not  be  sacrificed  at  the 
shrine  of  union." 

In  the  minutes  of  the  Presbytery  we  find  in 
1867  this  report  of  the  committee  on  Re-union  : 

Resolved  I — That  the  Presbytery  regards  the 
organic  union  of  the  Old  and  New  School  bodies 
of  the  Presbyterian  church  as  eminently  desirable 
and  that  no  questions  of  minor  importance  should 
prevent  it. 


26  THE  PllESRYTEKY  OE  XEWTOX 

Resolved  II — That  while  we  note  with  grati- 
tude the  works  of  God's  providence  in  the  conclu- 
sions of  the  Joint  Committee  of  the  two  bodies, 
yet  we  would  desire,  if  possible,  somewhat  more 
explicit  statements  as  to  the  doctrinal  basis,  con- 
trol of  the  Theolo.s:ical  Seminaries,  and  in  re,gard 
to  the  churches  not  thorouo^hly  Presbyterian  in 
their. oro^anization." 

In  1868  we  find  that  the  basis  for  re-union  was 
defeated,  the  following  resolution  being  recorded  : 
"That  this  Presbytery,  having  disapproved  of  the 
basis  of  re-union,  express  its  willingness  and  de- 
sire to  unite  with  the  New  School  church  on  the 
basis  of  our  common  standards,  viz. :  The  West- 
minster Confession  of  Faith  and  the  Larger  and 
Shorter  Catechisms." 

The  crux  of  the  matter  was  our  Presbytery's 
insisting  on  adoption  of  the  Old  School  Confes- 
sion of  Faith  and  Catechism  without  explanation. 
Finally,  however,  on  October  6.  1869,  the  re- 
union was  approved. 

April  12,  1870,  a  committee  was  appointed  to 
visit  Bangor,  Pa.,  with  a  view  to  organizing  there 
a  church.  The  church  was  organized  June  14  by 
order  of  the  Presbytery.  April  13  of  the  same 
year,  Rev.  E.  Clark  Cline  was  elected  Stated 
Clerk,  a  position  destined  to  be  filled  by  him  with 
distinction  for  forty-six  fruitful  years. 

As  a  result  of  the  adoption  of  the  Basis  of  Un- 
ion it  now  became  necessary  to  reconstruct  the 
Presbyteries  subscribing  to  it.  .\ccordingly  we 
find  the  following  record: — **By  direction  of  the 
Synod  of  New  Jersey,  the  members  of  the  recon- 
structed Presbytery  of  Newton  met  in  the  West- 
minster Church  in  this  citv   (Elizabeth,   fune  22, 


THK  PUKSinTKUV  OF  XKWTOX  27 

1870)  to  oro^anize  and  to  choose  a  place  and  time 
for  the  next  stated  meeting:.'' 

As  directed  by  Synod,  meetin":  at  Elizabeth, 
June  22,  1870,  the  reconstructed  Presbytery  met 
in  Xewton,  October  3,  1870,  when  the  process  of 
re-oro^anization  was  formally  and  finally  sealed. 
The  sermon  was  preached  by  the  Rev.  Sylvester 
Cooke,  of  \Vanta.2:e  First.  We  have  the  follow- 
ing- record  of  action  taken  at  this  time,  namely, 
the  adoption  of  this  minute:  "That  there  be  a 
statement  setting-  forth  in  historical  order  and  in 
detail  the  ecclesiastical  changes  which  have  re- 
cently taken  place  and  which  have  resulted  in  the 
constituting  of  the  Presbytery  of  Newton  as  it  is 
now  exists,  with  the  Acts  of  the  General  Assem- 
bly and  Synod  of  New  Jersey,  under  the  opera- 
tion of  which  these  changes  have  taken  place." 

This  statement  follows:  "In  virtue  of  the  Basis 
of  Union  adopted  by  the  Assemblies  sitting  in 
New  York  in  May,  1869,  and  sent  down  to  the 
Presbyteries,  and  declared  by  the  Assemblies  sit- 
ting in  Pittsburg  in  November,  1869,  to  be  of 
binding  force. 

1.  The  Second  Presbyterian  Church  of  Belvi- 
dere,  formerly  in  connection  with  the  Presbytery 
of  Philadelphia  Fourth,  and  at  that  time  without 
a  pastor,  and  the  other  churches  now  composing 
this  Presbytery,  become  ecclesiastically  connect- 
ed and  by  action  of  the  General  Assembly  of  1870, 
constituting  the  Synod  of  Xew  Jersey,  this  con- 
nection become  more  immediate  and  direct. 

2.  In  virtue  of  the  following  action  of  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly  of  1870  included  in  the  enabling 
act,  viz. :  .  .  The  Synod  of  X'ew^  Jersey  is  here- 
by constituted,  to  consist  of  the  Presbyteries  and 


28  THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  XEAVTOX 

parts  of  Presbyteries  included  within  the  State  of 
Xew  Jersey " 

The  foUowino-  churches  and  ministers  were 
thereby  separated  from  Xewton  Presbytery  by 
being-  situated  in  Pennsylvania :  Stroudsburg, 
Middle  Smithfield,  Shawnee,  Lower  ^It.  F)ethel, 
Upper  Mt.  Bethel,  P)angor ;  Rev.  Lyman  Cole- 
man,'D.  D.,  Rev.  John  J.  Carrell,  Rev.  Edwin 
Town,  Rev.  Robert  F.  Foresman,  Rev.  J.  Kirby 
Davis,  Rev.  Wm.  H.  Dinsmore,  Rev.  Chas.  E. 
Van  Allen,  Rev.  Wm.  B.  Darrach. 

In  virtue  of  the  action  of  the  Synod  of  New- 
Jersey,  convened  in  Elizabeth,  N.  J.,  June.  1870, 
that  "The  Presbytery  of  Newton  to  comprise  the 
counties  of  Sussex  and  Warren,  with  that  part  of 
Hunterdon  lying  north  of  the  ?^Iusconetcong 
Mountain,  and  to  be  the  legal  successor  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Newton,"  the  church  at  Pleasant 
Grove  in  Morris  County,  with  its  pastor.  Rev.  ^L 
A.  Depue.  was  separated.  The  following  minis- 
ters  and  churches  in  Hunterdon  County  were  in- 
cluded :  Rev.  H.  Brown  Scott,  Bloomsbury,  and 
Rev.  John  B.  Kugler,  'Musconetcong  \^alley. 

The  following  ministers  and  churches  in  the 
county  of  Sussex  were  included :  Rev.  Joel  Camp- 
bell, Rev.  Sylvester  Cooke,  Rev.  Andrew  Tully, 
Rev.  James  Mc  Williams,  Rev.  Alanson  A. 
Flaines,  Rev.  Peres  B.  Bonney ;  Wantage  I, 
Wantage  H  (now  Pjeemersville),  Deckertown 
(now  Sussex),  Hardyston  (N.  Hardyston  and 
Hamburg),  Lafayette,  Branchville,  Stanhope, 
vSparta.  Also  Rev.  John  J.  Crane,  formerl}^  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Lyons,  but  now  a  stated  supply  of 
the  church  at  vStanhope.  These  with  the  minis- 
ters and  churches  of  Sussex  and   \\'arren   Conn- 


THE  PHKSBYTFTvY  OF  XEW'IOX  29 

ties  formerly  belonging-  to  the  Presbytery  of 
Xewton  form  the  following  Roll  of  the  recon- 
structed Presbytery  : 

llev.  Aaron    H.    Hand Greenwicli 

Rev.  Thaniel   B.  Condit Stillwater  and   Swartswood 

Rev.  Frederick    Kniuhton,    D.J) Oxford    I'irst 

Rev.  David    Tully Belvidere    First 

Rev.  Thomas    McCanley Hackettst(Avn 

Rev.  E.   Clarke  Cline Oxford   Second 

Rev.  Henry    B.    Townsend Pliillipsbiir^^ 

Rev.  Theodore   L.    Byington Xewton 

Rev.  William   C.   Stitt Yellow    Frame 

Rev.  Thomas   A.    Sanson Blairstt)wn 

Jiev.  William    Laurie Stewartsvilie 

Rev.  Joseph    H.    Doremus Mansfield    Second 

Rev.  Joseph   H.   Thyne Marksboro 

Rev.  Peter   H.    Brooks Knowlton   and   Hope 

Rev.  Frank   E.    Miller Asbury 

Rev.  H.    Brown    Scott Bloomsbury 

Rev.  .John    B.    Kugler Musconetcong   Yalley 

Rev.  Peres  B.   Bonney Branchville 

Rev.  Sylvester   Cooke AYantage    First 

Pvev.  Andrew   Tiilly Wantage   Second    (Beemerville) 

Rev.  James  McWilliams.  S.  S. Deckertown 

Rev.  Alanson  A.  Haitiess.  S.  S.  __Hardyston    (X'^orth  Hardy- 

ston  and  Hamburg) 

Pvev.  .Toel    Cam])bell.    S.  S Lafayette 

Rev.  J<dm    J.    Crane Stanlio])e 

The  following  ministers  without  charge: 

Rev.  John  A.  Reiley,  H.  W.,  Rev.  Edward  D 
Bryan.  Rev.  Ephraim  Simanton,  Rev.  Myron 
Barrett,  Rev.  Henry  Rinker,  Rev.  Alphaeus  H. 
Holloway.  Rev.  Joseph  H.  Doremus. 

The  following  churches: 

Andover  S.  S.  \^acant — Sparta,  Relvidere  Sec- 
ond, Harmony,  Montana,  ^Tansfield  First  (Wash- 
ington). 


no  T?IE  PRES15Y1KRY  OF  XKWTOX 

Licentiate,  David  Coneroy ;  Candidates  for  the 
ministry :  Isaac  H.  Condit,  Elbert  N.  Condit,  Wil- 
liam W".  Goodrich,  I.  D.  Decker,  Jethro  B.  Wood- 
ward, and  ^^^  D.  Nicholas. 

The  church  at  Delaware  was  organized  June  7, 
1 87 1.  The  Presbytery  was  incorporated  by  the 
election  of  a  Board  of  Trustees,  May  7.  1875. 
April'  20,  1876  came  a  recjuest  from  Ogdensburg 
and  Franklin  Furnace  for  the  services  of  the  pas- 
tor at  Sparta,  which  request  was  granted. 

October  3,  1877  ^^^^  name  of  the  ^Mansfield  First 
Church  was  changed  to  The  First  Church  of 
Washington.  April  1878  it  was  reported  that  the 
title  to  the  Montana  church  was  now  held  by  the 
Trustees  of  the  Presbytery  in  trust  for  the  Pres- 
bytery. 

April,  1880,  the  Hope  Church  was  placed  under 
the  care  of  the  ^larksboro  session. 

A  brief  history  is  pertinent  here  of  Beemer  fleet- 
ing House  or  Beemer  Church  which  Avas  taken  over 
from  the  congregational  body  in  1844  and  its 
membership  made  a  part  of  ^^'antage  H  (now 
Beemerville)  parish.  Regular  services  were  held 
on  Sabbath  afternoons  at  Beemer  fleeting  House 
from  this  time  until  1874,  then  only  occasional 
services  were  held,  but  the  Sunday  School  flour- 
ished. In  April,  1882,  Presbytery  appointed  a 
committee  to  organize  a  church  at  Beemer  fleet- 
ing House,  which  organization  was  effected  May 
30,  1882,  taking  the  name  of  the  Papakating  Pres- 
byterian Church. 

April  14,  1886,  there  was  a  petition  for  the  or- 
ganization of  the  Westminster  Church  of  Phil- 
lipsburg,  organization  being  effected  April  2"/. 


TTIK  rKKSlJYTKRY  OF  XEWTOX  31 

June  15,  1886,  there  was  a  petition  to  organize 
the  church  at  Beattystown.  The  church  was  or- 
ganized June  25,  with  tw^enty-five  charter  mem- 
bers. 

Yellow  Frame  completed  its  new  church  and 
home  in  the  fall  of  1887,  Wantage  II  celebrated 
its  centennial  in  July  of  the  same  year. 

]\Iansfield  II  and  Beattystown  were  made  one 
cliarge  in  April,  1888. 

Oct.  4,  1893,  the  church  at  Franklin  Furnace, 
now  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Franklin, 
which  was  connected  with  the  Classis  of  Passaic, 
of  the  Reformed  Church  of  America,  applied  t(^ 
be  received  under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery.  It 
was  recei\ed  Ai)ril  11,  1894. 

Papakating  was  dropped  from  the  Roll  of  Pres- 
bytery in  1895;  Hope,  Papakating,  and  Swarts- 
wood  being  dissolved  by  action  of  Presbytery, 
January  21,  1896.  All  three  with  Montana  had 
been  surviving  only  in  name  for  twenty  years  or 
more.  On  April  14,  1897,  ^[ontana  also  was  dis- 
solved by  the  Presbyterv. 

January  22,  1901,  a  chapel  at  Ogdensburg,  to 
be  under  the  care  of  the  church  at  Sparta,  w^as  au- 
thorized by  Presbytery.  June  25  of  the  same 
year  a  portion  of  the  North  Hardyston  congrega- 
tion asked  that  the  church  be  separated  into  its 
constituent  parts.  As  a  result,  on  October  8,  the . 
First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Hamburg  was  au- 
thorized to  be  organized,  thus  making  two  dis- 
tinct ecclesiastical  organizations  in  the  old  North 
Hardyston  field.  The  original  one  is  two  miles 
from  Hamburg  and  is  known  today  as  North 
Hardyston.  The  complete  organization  of  Ham- 
burg was  effected  on  October  19. 


32  THE  PRE8BYTEKY  07'^  XE\YTOX 

In  April,  1903,  Presbytery  authorized  the  sale 
of  the  Swartswood  property  for  $200.  In  Sep- 
tember of  the  same  year  the  name  of  Wantage  II 
was  chano^ed  to  Beemerville. 

On  November  5,  1906.  the  Magyar  Evangelical 
Reformed  Church  of  Alpha  presented  a  petition, 
signed  by  seventy-six  of  its  communicant  mem- 
bers..'all  of  them  men,  living  at  Alpha  and  its 
neighboring  hamlet,  \^ulcanite,  to  be  received  un- 
der the  care  of  the  Presbytery,  the  petition  giving 
as  the  reasons,  the  hope  that  imion  with  the  Pres- 
byterian Church  with  its  oversight  and  care 
would  be  greatly  helpful  to  their  spiritual  life  and 
promote  their  zeal  and  efficiency  in  the  service  of 
their  Saviour,  feeling  as  they  do  the  need  of  such 
help,  separated  from  the  church  of  their  Father- 
land and  their  home,  now  in  this  country  are 
brought  so  near  the  people  of  the  Presbyterian 
polity  and  faith. 

The  petition  had  been  presented  to  the  Com- 
mittee of  the  Synod  and  referred  by  them  to  the 
Presbytery.  The  church  was  accordingly  taken 
under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery,  Synod  and 
Presbytery  sharing  equally  to  the  amount  of  $250 
towards  its  support  for  six  months. 

A  committee  to  organize  the  church  reported 
on  April  9,  1907,  that  the  church  had  been  fully 
organized  and  incorporated.  The  Alpha  Port- 
land Cement  Company  and  the  Vulcanite  Port- 
land Cement  Company  respectively  contributed 
$250  for  the  support  of  the  church. 

The  following  churches,  originally  belonging  to 
Xewton  Presbytery,  have  been  withdrawn  from 
time  to  time  and  placed  with  the  following  Pres- 
byteries, respectively:  Bethlehem,  Basking  Ridge, 


THE  PPvESBYTERY  OF  XEWTOX  33 

and  Lamington,  with  the  Presbytery  of  Eliza- 
beth ;  German  V^alley  and  Pleasant  Grove,  with 
Morris  and  Orange;  Flemington,  Amwell  First, 
Amwell  Second,  Alexandria,  and  Kingwood  with 
New  Brunswick. 

It  is  a  far  cry  from  the  Presbyterian  pioneers 
to  these  days  of  America  as  the  melting  pot  of 
the  nations.  A  glance  at  conditions  then  and 
now  will  indicate  the  changes  which  the  years 
have  wTought.  In  the  first  place  what  of  the  peo- 
ple of  this  region? 

The  revocation  of  the  Edict  of  Xantes  in  1685 
sent  to  other  lands  some  four  hundred  thousand 
Protestants,  the  best  blood  of  France,  and  many 
of  these  Huguenots  came  to  America.  Great  P>ri- 
tain  also  about  this  time  by  religious  persecution 
drove  from  her  boundaries  a  large  number  of 
Scotch-Irish  Presbyterians. 

These  met  and  mingled  upon  the  shores  of  a 
new  continent,  and  just  as  streams  of  water  fol- 
low the  lines  of  least  resistance,  so  they  followed 
as  their  course  the  natural  waterways,  the  Dela- 
ware, the  Musconetcong,  the  Pohatcong,  the  Lo- 
patcong,  the  Pequest,  Paulin's  Kill,  and  the  Wal- 
kill,  until  we  find  them  settled  in  the  Minnesink 
country,  along  with  the  Holland  Dutch,  who  had 
travelled  down  the  Hudson,  and  many  other  na- 
tionalities. Thus  out  of  the  mingled  blood  of 
French,  Scotch-Irish.  English,  German,  and  Hol- 
land Dutch,  was  formed  the  population  of  that 
early  day. 

How  copper  was  early  discovered  near  the 
Delaware  Water  Gap  and  carried  over  "The  Old 
Mine  Road,"  which  extended  as  far  as  Kingston 
on   the   Hudson ;   how  a   surveying  party  of  the 


:u  T II E  PI { !•: s in" T K\[\  () F  X !•: w rox 

Penns,  as  early  as  1730,  found  grown  fruit  trees 
and  other  evidences  of  lonjs^  settlement  on  the 
Shawnee  flats ;  how  the  same  party  encountered 
there  an  old  Indian  who  put  his  hand  upon  the 
surveyor's  shoulder  and  in  an  admonitory  tone 
said:  "Put  up  your  iron  string-.  Go  home."  How 
the  Proprietary  Land  Office  was  closed  from 
T 718. .to  1732  owing  to  the  minority  of  Richard 
and  Thomas  Penn,  thus  causing  much  inconveni- 
ence to  the  early  settlers  in  procuring  deeds  to 
their  land ;  how  in  spite  of  this  one  company  of 
Scotch-Irish  established  themselves  in  the  Forks 
of  the  Delaware  as  early  as  1728  in  the  bounds  of 
what  is  now  Allen  and  East  Allen  townships, 
Northampton  Co. ;  how  another,  a  year  or  two 
later,  formed  in  Lower  Mt.  Bethel  what  was 
known  as  Forks  North  or  Hunter's  Settlement, 
to  distinguish  it  from  the  aforementioned  Forks 
West  or  Craig's  Settlement :  how  the  Moravians 
commenced  their  work  at  Bethlehem  and  Naza- 
reth :  how  the  Pennsylvania  Germans  came  into 
the  country ;  these  are  matters  of  civil  rather  than 
of  ecclesiastical  history. 

So  too  is  the  famous — or  infamous — Walking 
Purchase,  by  whose  terms  the  white  man  obtain- 
ed from  the  Indian  the  valuable  land  along  the 
Delaware  from  the  Neshaminy  on  the  south  to 
the  foot  hills  of  the  Poconos  on  the  north,  and  by 
whose  fraudulence  he  incurred  the  undying  ha- 
tred of  the  red  man,  resulting  in  a  series  of  mas- 
sacres and  contributing  to  the  I^^rench  and  In- 
dian War. 

But  with  the  coming  of  David  Brainerd  and 
his  notable  labors  among  white  man  and  Indian 
alike,  we  tread  once  more  the  sure  ground  of  re- 
li^rious  if  not  of  ecclesiastical  historv. 


THK  IMJKSin  TKll^    OK  XKV\  rOX  35 

The  religious  life  of  that  day  owed  much  to 
David  Brainerd,  and  it  is  interesting  to  recall  that 
during  his  labors  among  the  Indians  his  home 
near  Afartin's  Creek  was  within  the  limits  of 
Xewton  Presbytery  as  originally  constituted. 

Of  the  churches  organized  at  that  time,  the  ear- 
liest record  we  have  is  this.  In  1739,  "there  came 
before  the  Presbytery  (of  Xew  Brunswick)  a 
supplication  for  supplies  of  preaching,  in  Mr. 
Barber's  neighborhood,  near  Musconnekunk" 
(Musconetcong  River),  From  subsequent  rec- 
.ords  we  learn  that  **Mr.  Barber's  neighborhood" 
was  identical  with  parts  of  Old  Mansfield  and 
Greenwich. 

From  1739  on  frecpjent  mention  is  made  of  sup- 
plies being  sent  t(j  Greenwich,  Mansfield  Wood- 
house,  Durham,  and  other  places.  "Greenwich 
upon  Delaware"  was  the  district  now  occupied 
by  Belvidere,  Oxford,  and  part  of  Harmony.  It 
was  sometimes  called  "Upper  Greenwich." 

Probably  the  first  Presbyterian  houses  of  wor- 
ship erected  were  at  Greenwich  and  ?vlansfield 
Woodhouse,  for  David  Brainerd  in  his  diary  men- 
tions having  preached  in  Greenwich  twice  on 
Sabbath  Dec.  9,  1744.  And  since  we  know  that 
the  original  log  church  there  was  so  far  decayed 
in  1775  as  to  render  another  building  necessary, 
we  infer  that  it  was  in  the  first  one  that  he 
preached  in  1744.  Mansfield  Woodhouse  must 
have  been  built  about  the  same  time.  Mt.  Bethel 
seems  to  have  had  a  ])lace  of  worship  as  earlv  as 
1747- 

Among  those  sent  to  supply  those  early 
churches  were  Rev.  Robert  Cross,  a  native  of  Ire- 
land :  Rev,  John  Cross,  a  Scotsman,  settled  at  a 


30  THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  XE\VTOX 

place  called  "the  mountains  back  of  Newark,"  a 
co-laborer  with  Whitefield ;  Rev.  James  Camp- 
bell, pastor  of  Tinicum ;  Rev.  Daniel  Lawrence 
of  Long-  Island,  who  studied  at  Lo,g  College  and 
was  settled  in  "The  Forks"  and  Lower  Mt.  Beth- 
el ;  and  Rev.  Azariah  Horton,  a  native  of  Boston. 
The  last  named  spent  a  fortnight  at  Smithfield 
preparing  the  Indians  for  the  coming  of  David 
F)rainerd.  He  also  preached  the  first  English  ser- 
mon in  that  section,  in  the  little  log  church  near 
Shawnee.  Services  there,  as  in  other  Dutch  Re- 
formed churches,  were  usually  conducted  in 
Dutch,  but  as  there  were  some  Scotch  and  Eng- 
lish attendants  it  became  customary  to  have  occa- 
sional services  in  English.  Out  of  these  probably 
grew  the  organization  of  a  Presbyterian  church 
there  in  1814,  a  record  of  wdiich  we  find  in  Eng- 
lish among  the  records  of  the  Dutch  Reformed 
church,  wdiich  were  kept  in  Dutch. 

Later  yir.  Boyd,  Mr.  John  Clark,  Mr.  James 
McCrea,  and  others  are  mentioned  as  supplies  for 
the  various  churches.  McCrea  was  a  native  of 
Ireland  and  was  for  a  time  stated  supply  at  Mans- 
field and  Greenwich.  He  was  the  father  of  Col. 
John  McCrea  of  Albany  and  of  Miss  Jane  Mc- 
Crea, whose  murder  by  the  Indians  near  Fort  Ed- 
ward was  one  of  the  sensational  incidents  of  the 
Revolution.  Miss  ^IcCrea,  a  beautiful  girl,  was 
engaged  to  a  young  Tory  officer  serving  in  Bur- 
goyne's  army  when  it  was  near  that  place.  A 
band  of  i)rowding  Indians  captured  her  and  car- 
ried her  prisoner  on  horseback  towards  Bur- 
goyne's  army.  They  were  followed  and  a  shot 
meant  for  the  Indians  killed  her.  The  Indians 
took  her  seal])  and  escaped  to  Burgoyne's  army 
where  her  lover  recognized  her  hair. 


THE  PRESBYTEPvY  OF  NEWTON  37 

Conspicuous  also  in  the  Revolution  was  the 
Rev.  John  Roseb rough,  pastor  at  Greenwich,  Ox- 
ford, and  :\Iansfield,  and  later  at  the  Irish  Settle- 
ment and  Hunter's  Settlement.  He  was  born  in 
Scotland  or  the  north  of  Ireland  in  1714,  was 
graduated  at  Princeton  College  in  1761,  was  aided 
in  his  preparation  for  the  sacred  office  out  of  a 
fund  provided  to  assist  poor,  pious,  promising 
Calvinistic  young  men,  was  taken  under  the  care 
of  the  Presbytery  of  Xew  Brunswick  and  licensed 
by  them  to  preach  the  gospel  in  1763.  On  Dec. 
II,  1764,  he  was  ordained  in  the  old  Greenwich 
log^  church  near  Silver  Hill. 

At  "The  Forks'"  he  gathered  a  battalion  from 
among  his  parishioners  and  led  them  as  their 
colonel  to  Washington's  camp  at  Coryell's  ferry, 
there  to  relinquish  his  command  to  a  military 
man  while  he  remained  their  chaplain.  His  bat- 
talion figured  in  the  battle  of  Trenton  and  a  few 
days  later  he  was  surprised  in  a  farmhouse  near 
Pennington  and  there  stabbed  to  death  by  a  band 
of  British  stragglers. 

When  the  British  entered  Xew  York,  all  the 
prominent  Whigs  were  compelled  to  flee,  among 
them  being  Rev.  Joseph  Treat,  who  came  to 
Lower  Mt.  Bethel,  which  church  he  served  in 
connection  with  Greenwich.  He  later  moved  to 
Bloomsbury,  where  he  died.  His  grave,  unmark- 
ed, is  in  the  Greenwich  cemetery. 

In  the  early  days  population  was  meager  and 
land  easy  to  obtain.  At  Sparta,  we  read,  in  1738 
there  were  probably  not  more  than  five  or  six 
hundred  inhabitants  in  all  that  section  of  the 
state.  Sussex  County  was  formed  in  1753,  with 
Xewton  as  one  of  its  four  townships.     Wantage 


3S  TIIK  PlJESHY'rERV  OF  XKWTOX 

was  set  off  in   1754,  and  Hardyston,  from  which 
the  church  was  named,  in  1762. 

Probably  about  1756  Robert  O^den  established 
there  his  family  residence  between  Sparta  and 
Ogdensburg,  surrounded  by  several  thousand 
acres  of  land,  which  father  and  sons  cultivated. 
There,  it  seems,  the  first  Presbyterian  services  of 
that  wdiole  region  were  held.  The  proprietaries, 
wishing  to  encourage  religion,  gave  a  glebe  of 
sixty-five  acres  to  the  prospective  church  organi- 
zation. 

In  Hardwick  township,  erected  about  1713, 
there  were  two  places  of  Presbyterian  worship, 
Lower  Hardwick  or  Hackettstown,  and  Upper 
Hardwick  or  Yellow  Frame.  We  read:  "In  this 
township,  about  half  a  mile  from  Dark  Aloon 
Tavern  is  an  old  burying  ground,  from  which  the 
original  forest  trees  had  not  been  removed.  Here, 
surrounded  by  woods  on  all  sides,  stood  a  log 
meeting  house  belonging  to  the  Hardwick  Pres- 
byterian. Church.  They  built  a  new  church  in 
what  was  then  known  as  Shaw's  Lane.  This 
church  has  since  been  known  as  the  Yellow 
Frame  Church,  and  the  northeast  corner  of  it  is  a 
corner  of  Sussex  and  Warren  counties  in  the  di- 
vision of  1824." 

Here  on  Nov.  7,  1787,  Rev.  Mr.  Condit  was  or- 
dained and  installed  at  a  service  at  which  Rev. 
Dr.  John  Witherspoon  presided,  preached  the 
sermon  and  delivered  the  charge  to  the  pastor. 

Here  too.  Rev.  Francis  Peppard,  a  former  pas- 
tor, returned  to  die  and  is  buried  in  the  Yellow 
Frame"  cemetery. 


THE  PKESBYTEKV  i)V  XK^^  "JC^X  30 

As  for  Lower  Hardwick  or  Hackettstown,  it 
was  previously  known  as  the  "Presbyterian  con- 
greo^ation  at  Musconetcong,  near  Thomas 
Helmes'  ]\Iills."  As  near  as  can  be  ascertained 
people  began  to  settle  there  about  1720.  There 
was  a  religious  organization  prior  to  the  obtain- 
ing of  real  estate  for  church  purposes.  They  had 
a  rude  log  church  upon  the  site  of  the  present 
Sabbath  School  room.  Here  the  people  met  for 
religious  work  and  worship  until  they  felt  able  to 
purchase  the  ground  on  which  the  church  stood. 

The  deed  for  the  purchase  bears  date  March  8, 
1764.  The  grantor  was  Obadiah  Ayers.  The 
persons  to  whom  the  property  was  deeded  were  a 
"Committee  chosen  by  the  majority  of  the  votes 
of  the  Presbyterian  congregation  at  ^lusconet- 
cong,  near  Thomas  Helmes'  Mills."  The  consi- 
deration was  "five  shillings,  proclamation  mo- 
ney." 

Some  of  the  conditions  of  the  deed  were  that 
the  trust  was  to  be  held  for:  "Presbyterians  who 
do  or  shall  hold  and  continue  to  hold  the  system 
of  doctrine  contained  in  the  Westminster  Confes- 
sion of  Faith  and  Directory,  agreeably  to  the 
present  interpretation  of  the  Synod  of  New  York 
and  Philadelphia,  to  which  they  are  now  united." 

At  W^ashington  or  Mansfield  Woodhouse  there 
seems  to  have  been  a  church  building  of  logs 
erected  sometime  between  1739  and  1744  on  the 
site  of  the  old  graveyard  adjoining  the  Washing- 
ton cemetery,  on  the  south  slope  of  the  ridge 
which  separates  the  Pohatcong  and  the  Musco- 
netcong  valley.  The  place  was  known  as  "Mr. 
I'arber's"  until  1754  when  Mansfield  township 
was  set  off  from  Greenwich  and  the  church  took 


40  THE  PRESBYTEliY  OF  XEWTOX 

the  name  of  ^lansfield  \\'oodhouse,  probably  be- 
cause there  was  a  woodhouse  at  or  near  where 
tlie  church  was  located. 

The  deed  for  the  property  was  made  Oct.  29, 
1765:  the  g-rantors  were  John  Bowlby  and  Mary 
his  wife;  the  consideration  was  "Five  shillings, 
proclamation  money :"  the  persons  to  whom  the 
prop'erty  was  conveyed  were  the  "elders  and  the 
rest  of  the  English  Presbyterian  congregation  of 
^Mansfield  Woodhouse."  Along  with  the  metes 
and  bounds  of  the  property  specifically  given,  it 
is  said:  "It  being  the  said  piece  of  ground  where 
the  old  Logg  Meeting  House  was  and  the  bury- 
ing ground  now  is." 

First  Wantage  although  one  of  the  oldest 
churches  in  Sussex  County,  did  not  take  shape  as 
early  as  the  churches  farther  south,  due  probably 
to  geograph-ical  conditions.  For  First  Wantage 
was  located'  well  up  the  Clove,  whose  nearest  in- 
habitants were  people  living  in  the  Minisink 
country,  over  the  Kittatiny  mountains  to  the 
north. 

Prior  to  1728  there  were  probably  no  settlers  in 
the  Wantage  neighborhood.  About  1734,  how- 
ever, Peter  Decker  came  over  the  mountain  from 
the  Xeversink  and  located  at  Deckertown.  By 
1754  there  were  a  sufficient  number  of  people 
there  to  call  for  the  erection  of  a  new  township. 
The  township  of  Wantage  was  accordingly  set 
off  from  Newton  in  that  year,  and  the  church 
took  the  name  of  the  township. 

Originally  there  were  four  Dutch  churches  north 
of  the  mountain.  Rev.  Elias  Van  Bunschooten, 
who  ministered  to  three  of  them,  gave  his  atten- 
tion also  to  the  needs  of  the  people  on  the  south 


THE  rRESP.YTERY  OE  XE^VTOX  41 

side  of  the  mountain,  his  efforts  resulting  in  the 
organization  of  First  Wantage  by  the  Classis  of 
New  Brunswick  of  the  Dutch  Church  on  August 
2y.  1787. 

Stillwater  also  came  from  Dutch  or  German 
antecedents.  Tracts  of  land  being  surveyed  and 
opened  for  settlement  on  the  Paulin's  Kill,  one  of 
these  was  purchased  in  1740  from  the  original 
owner  in. Philadelphia  by  John  Bernhardt  and  his 
son-in-law,  Casper  Shafer,  who,  as  the  easiest 
way  of  reaching  their  possessions,  journeyed  up 
the  valleys  of  the  Delaware  and  Paulin's  Kill  and 
settled  at  Stillwater.  John  Bernhardt  set  apart  a 
piece  of  ground  as  a  site  for  a  church  and  grave- 
yard. Curiously,  he  himself  was  the  first  to  be 
buried  there,  thus  dedicating  the  place  to  its  des- 
tined use  by  his  remains,  in  1748. 

The  early  religious  elements  of  the  community 
seem  to  have  been  German  Reformed  and  Lu- 
theran, called  specifically,  German  Lutheran  and 
German  Calvinists.  A  church  building  was  com- 
pleted in  1 77 1  and  we  find  that  on  Jan.  10,  1783, 
a  number  of  persons  signed  articles  of  faith  under 
the  name  of  the  Reformed  Association  of  Hard- 
wick.  In  the  church  building  above  referred  to, 
was  organized  June  13,  1823,  by  a  Committee  of 
Xewton  Presbytery  the  Stillwater  Presbyterian 
Church,  application  having  been  previously  made 
to  the  Classis  of  Xew  I'runswick  for  dismissal 
from  that  body. 

Social  and  political  conditions  were  interesting 
in  those  days.  At  the  first  meeting  of  the  trus- 
tees at  Hardyston,  we  find  that  "the  said  trus- 
tees" took  "their  oaths  of  allegiance  and  abjura- 
tion and  also  an  oath  for  the  faithful  performance 


42  TITK  PUKSr.VI'ERV  OF  XKWTOX 

of  their  duty  agreeable  to  the  directions  of  the  act 
of  the  Legislature  of  this  State  passed  the  tenth 
day  of  March,  1786."  This  was  the  first  corpora- 
tion under  the  law  referred  to,  as  the  records  of 
the  Clerk  of  the  Court  of  Sussex  County  show. 

Oxford  became  incorporated  one  year  later, 
May  8,  1787.  There,  too,  we  find  the  "oaths  of 
abjuration,  alleg'iance,  and  office."  Thus  we  see 
that  in  those  days  trustees  abjured  their  alle- 
giance to  Great  Britain,  swore  allegiance  to  the 
United  States,  and  then  bound  themselves  by 
oath  to  be  faithful,  in  the  trust  committed  to 
them. 

"In  1801,  March  9,"  we  read,  "the  first  turnpike 
in  New  Jersey  was  authorized  by  the  Legislature, 
from  Elizabethtown  through  Morristown  to  Mil- 
ford,  by  way  of  Newton  and  Culver's  Gap  to  the 
Delaware.  About  the  time  of  the  Revolution 
there  were  very  few,  if  any,  wagon  roads.  *  ''' 
'"  ^'  '•'  '•'  One  preacher  had  to  suffice  for  three 
or  four  congregations,  ten,  twenty,  or  even  more 
miles  apart." 

Nor  were  conditions  of  worship  easy.  In  Hack- 
ettstown  a  pit  was  bricked  up  in  the  middle  of 
the  audience  room  and  a  charcoal  fire  maintained. 
As  there  was  no  chimney  to  carry  off  the  gas,  it 
was  not  an  uncommon  thing  for  members  of  the 
congregation  to  be  carried  out  in  a  state  of  semi- 
asphyxiation. 

At  Newton  there  were  no  means  of  heating  the 
building,  and  the  minister  in  cold  weather  served 
the  people,  it  is  said,  sometimes  with  his  mittens 
on.  A  stipulation  in  the  contract  for  building 
was  that  the  congregation  engage  themselves  to 
furnish  a  barrel  of  whiskey  for  the  use  of  the 
workmen. 


TIIK  PRKSliVTERV  OF  XKWTOX  4:3 

At  Danville  a  carpenter's  bench  served  as  a 
pulpit  for  about  six  years. 

In  Knowlton,  just  as  in  the  Dutch  chtirches  in 
the  Minisink  country,  our  earliest  records  have 
come  to  us  through  an  old  book.  This  book  con- 
tains a  list  of  more  than  six  hundred  baptisms  at 
Knowlton  between  Jan.  8,  1766,  and  Oct.  26,  1810. 
Here  we  have  the  names  of  the  parents  and  spon- 
sors and  usually  of  the  minister  who  performed 
the  rite.  The  record  was  kept  almost  exclusively 
in  the  German  language.  Rev.  Uzal  Ogden,  an 
itinerant  Episcopal  minister,  under  date  of  July 
8,  1 77 1,  says  he  preached  in  Knowlton  in  a  "con- 
venient building  in  cold  weather,  but  in  the  open 
air  in  the  summer." 

Rev.  Ebenezer  Grant  reported  to  Presbytery  in 
April,  1803,  that  "there  is  at  this  time  no  regular- 
ly organized  congregation  in  the  township  of 
Xolton ;  nor  any  house  of  worship  exclusively  be- 
longing to  that  denomination,  -i^  =1=  >k  h^  *  =h 
That  the  Episcopalians  aided  by  the  Presbyter- 
ians (who  are  still  the  most  numerous,  although 
in  an  unformed  state)  have  many  years  since 
erected  a  stone  church  near  the  banks  of  the 
Delaware,  in  which  the  clergy  and  people  of  each 
denomination  were  reciprocally  admitted.  "^  *  * 
That  having  preached  here  and  in  private  houses 
to  assemblies  composed  of  different  denomina- 
tions, he  was  pleased  to  see  the  number  of  hear- 
ers as  great  as  could  be  expected  considering  the 
inclement  season,  the  difficulty  of  spreading  the 
information  ;  and  to  observe  a  respectful  and  ear- 
nest attention  to  the  W^ord  preached."  In  1808, 
the  old  custom  of  leading  the  singing  by  a  pre- 
centor or  a  few  voices  and  the  "lining  out"  of 
hymns  was  dispensed  with. 


44  THE  PKKSBVTERV  OF  XKWTOX 

Of  Harmony  we  read  that  "at  the  middle  of  the 
last  century  it  was  a  more  stirrino^  place  than  it 
is  now.  '^  "  "^  There  was  a  mail  stage  running 
from  Easton  to  Newton  on  alternate  days.  *  *  '■' 
In  the  Simimer  season  a  daily  stage  was  run  be- 
tween Easton  and  Belvidere  to  accommodate  the 
Summer  visitors,  chiefly  from  Philadelphia,  going 
to  Pielvidere  and  the  Water  Gap  "  *  '•'  This 
was  also  the  route  for  farmers  from  the  upper 
part  of  the  county  to  convey  their  grain  to  Eas- 
ton market.  Long  lines  of  teams  went  to  and  fro. 
♦  =;^  =1=  There  was  no  agricultural  machinery 
then,  and  the  large  and  productive  harvest  season 
was  almost  a  festive  time  among  the  prosperous 
farmers," 

Rev.  Mr,  Sloan,  who  became  the  first  pastor, 
preached  there  as  early  as  1803,  in  barns,  groves, 
and  private  houses.  Mrs.  Love,  wife  of  the  third 
pastor,  was  baptized  by  Mr.  Sloan  in  a  barn. 

Even  Phillipsburg  as  late  as  1851  was  a  strag- 
gling affair.  "Along  Main  Street,  with  now  and 
then  a  frame  house,  was  an  open  field.  On  the 
back  streets  boys  played  ball  in  a  fine  apple  or- 
chard. -■'  ■■'-  '■'  One  year  later  -•'-  *  *  amid 
wild  enthusiasm,  and  witnessed  by  hundreds  of 
])eople,  the  first  passenger  train,  on  the  Central 
Railroad  of  Xew^  Jersey,  July  5,  1852,  wended  its 
way  to  Xew  York.  "  =•'  '■'  The  old  town  was 
awakening.  J^eople  were  weary  of  wandering 
now  to  the  old  (Greenwich  Church,  to  Harmony, 
to  Easton.  "  "  '•'  They  wished  a  church  of 
their  own."  Accordingly  the  First  Church  of 
Lhilli])sburg  was  organized. 

The  changing  value  of  currency  is  interesting 
to  trace.     In  the  davs  succeeding  the  Revolution 


THE  PKESBYTEKY  OF  XKWTOX  4r, 

"land  sold  for  from  one  dollar  to  five  dollars  per 
acre,  while  through  inflated  currency  a  pair  of 
boots  cost  six  hundred  dollars,  seven  yards  of 
calico  cost  seven  hundred  fifty-two  dollars,  four 
handkerchiefs,  four  hundred  dollars.  Continental 
money." 

At  Washington,  or  Mansfield  W'oodhouse  in 
1791,  the  pews  in  the  church  were  rented  for  fifty 
seven  pounds,  ten  shillings,  being  about  suffi- 
cient to  pay  the  minister's  salary  of  $250. 

In  1787  the  old  log  church  was  found  to  need 
repairs.  Hence  we  find  the  following  record : 
"Agreed  with  Frederick  Eveland  to  do  the  fol- 
lowing repairs  (to  wit)  :  Build  a  stone  wall  at 
the  west  end  and  paint  the  same,  and  put  new  sill 
and  steps  at  the  door,  chunk  and  plaister  the  said 
house  and  white  same  inside  and  out,  and  also 
cut  four  larger*  windows  and  fit  the  same  with 
sashes  and  glass,  and  put  them  in  and  make  and 
hang  shutters  for  all  the  windows  in  said  house, 
for  which  we  agree  to  pay  him  eight  pounds,  ten 
shillings." 

At  Greenwich  in  1799  the  pastor's  salary  was 
ninety  pounds  per  annum.  The  sexton,  however, 
hardly  fared  so  well,  for  this  year  the  congrega- 
tion resolved:  "That  the  possessor  of  each  pew- 
do  pay  to  the  person  who  is  appointed  to  make 
fires  in  the  church  and  take  care  of  said  church 
one  bushel  of  buckwheat,  or  the  value  thereof,  for 
the  ensuing  winter." 

Hackettstown  was  much  more  generous.  Here 
the  trustees  voted  an  extra  fifteen  dollars  a  year 
to  the  sexton,  to  keep  the  dogs  out  of  the  church, 
and  to  sweep  and  sand  the  floor  three  times  a 
vear.     \Mien  the  call  was  extended  to  Rev.  Peter 


40  THE  PKESIJYTKKY  OF  XE^^•TOX 

Wilson  to  serve  them  in  conjunction  with 
Mansfield  Woodhouse,  he  was  offered  the  sum  of 
fifty-five  pounds,  the  use  of  the  parsonage,  and  a 
sufficient  supply  of  firewood  laid  down  at  his 
door. 

When  the  church  depended  upon  supplies  they 
were  paid  after  the  following  fashion.  Each  seat 
on  either  side  of  the  pulpit  was  to  pay  two  shil- 
lings;  each  seat  in  front,  one  shilling,  six  pence; 
each  square,  two  shillings,  six  pence.  The  aggre- 
gate was  the  amount  the  supply  was  to  receive 
for  each  sermon. 

When  the  treasurer  presented  his  report,  he 
had  received  sixty-one  pounds,  two  shillings,  and 
five  pence.  Twenty-eight  sermons  had  been 
preached  for  which  two  pounds  each  had  been 
paid.  The  remainder  had  been  used  for  inciden- 
tals, among  which  was  eight  shiHings  for  a  half 
gallon  of  spirits  for  a  vendue. 

In  1801  when  repairs  were  made  upon  the 
church  to  the  amount  of  $171.10,  we  find  the  first 
entries  in  dollars  and  cents  instead  of  in  pounds, 
shillings,  and  pence.  In  1819  the  old  building- 
was  sold  and  rebuilt  as  a  barn  near  Beattystown. 
When  the  new  church  was  built,  the  pews  were 
sold  to  the  highest  bidder  and  deeds  for  the  same 
executed.  Prices  ranged  from  $25  to  $100  per 
pew,  and  the  whole  amount  realized  was  $2330. 

At  Xewton.  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Hol- 
loway  W.  Hunt,  when  the  church  was  in  financial 
straits,  an  agreement  was  reached  that  he  should 
take  for  his  salary  an  assessment  of  seventy  five 
pounds  on  the  pews  and  whatever  else  he  could 
secure  by  way  of  subscription.  In  1801  there 
was  a  sale  of  pews,  however,  instead  of  leaving 


TUK  VnV.^nXTVAW  OF  XEWrOX  47 

them  to  be  farmed  out  by  the  pastor,  at  which 
the  president  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  bought 
pew  "No.  8"  and  presented  it  to  the  pastor.  By 
this  time  also  the  congregation  was  so  far  recu- 
perated financially  as  to  be  able  to  pay  the  sexton 
a  salary  of  five  dollars  a  year. 

That  human  nature  was  as  human  in  the  early 
days  as  now  is  evidenced  by  the  following  inci- 
dents. When  ]\!r.  Graham,  later  pastor  at  Ox- 
ford, presented  a  certificate  stating  that  he  was  a 
candidate  for  the  ministry  under  the  care  of  the 
Mendon  Association  (Mass.)  and  in  good  stand- 
ing, the  committee  to  whom  the  request  was  re- 
ferred reported :  "That  inasmuch  as  the  certifi- 
cate presented  by  Mr.  Graham  does  not  state  to 
what  particular  denomination  of  Christians  he  be- 
longs, while  Presbytery  do  not  see  any  particular 
reason  to  doubt  the  authenticity  of  the  certificate, 
yet,  as  it  is  not  sufi^iciently  definite  to  be  consi- 
dered regular  according  to  our  constitution  and 
Form  of  Government ;  therefore.  Resolved,  that 
Presbytery,  while  they  do  not  feel  disposed  to 
prohibit  the  elders  of  the  church  of  Oxford  from 
making  such  arrangements  as  they  shall  deem  for 
the  interests  of  religion  among  them,  do  not  feel 
prepared  formally  to  grant  the  request  of  said 
congregation  until  proper  certificate  can  be  pro- 
duced." Mr.  Graham  is  reputed  to  have  been  the 
originator  of  Graham  flour. 

When  in  1811  the  pastor  at  Hardwick  preached 
against  the  dancing  school  there  and  was  conse- 
quently unseated,  he  then  held  services  at  Marks- 
boro  and  organized  there  a  church  known  as  The 
Second  Presbyterian  Church  of  Hardwick.  Re- 
cognition   of    this    church    by     Presbytery    was 


48  THE  PKESBYTERY  OF  XE^YTON 

strenuously  opposed  bv  the  mother  cliurch,  so 
that  it  was  not  until  after  Presbytery  at  first  re- 
fused recognition,  then  later  appointed  a  day  of 
fasting-  and  prayer  and  sent  a  committee  to  ad- 
vise with  the  people,  that  in  1814  this  church  at 
^larksboro  was  at  last  organized. 

It  was  financial  stress,  no  doubt,  which  led  the 
Xew-ton  church  to  resort  to  a  lottery.  This  was 
known  as  the  "Newton  Princeton  Lottery,''  as 
Princeton  shared  in  the  profits.  That  this  was 
no  unusual  course  is  indicated  by  the  fact 
that  Washington  also  decided  upon  a  lottery  to 
raise  the  necessary  funds  for  building  its  new 
church.  We  have  the  record  that  on  May  26, 
1792,  the  trustees  signed  a  petition  to  the  Legis- 
lature for  the  necessary  authorization. 

In  181 1  the  subject  came  before  the  General 
Assembly  with  the  following:  question:  ''Are  lot- 
teries, even  for  religious  purposes  such  as  build- 
ing churches,  etc.,  consistent  with  the  morality  of 
the  gospel?"  The  Assembly  resolved,  "That  as 
an  answer  to  this  question  at  present  would  not 
be  attended  with  edification,  the  Assembly  de- 
cline giving  a  decision  upon  it."  A  comment 
upon  the  universal  acceptance  of  gambling  at 
that  period. 

In  1819  "The  Session  of  the  church  of  Xewton 
referred  the  following  case  to  Presbytery  for  ad- 
vice, viz. :  A.  B..  ruling  elder  in  the  church  at 
Xewton  has  been  accused  before  the  session  of 
said  church  of  profanity,  and  in  a  certain  degree 
found  guilty.  '•'  '■'  *  The  session  asked  the  ad- 
vice of  Presbytery  in  the  case."  How  we  should 
like  to  know  whether  the  session  only  to  a  cer- 
tain degree  found  the  brother  guilty,  or  whether 


THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  XE^VTOX  49 

they  found  him  i^uilty  of  a  certain  degree  of  pro- 
fanity, and  if  so,  what  the  degrees  of  profanity 

are. 

* 

In  1821  elders  from  the  ^Mansfield,  Harmony 
and  Oxford  churches  sent  a  memorial  to  Presby- 
tery, impugning  the  ministerial  standing  and  con- 
duct of  one  of  the  ministers  in  that  body.  They 
charge  him,  among  other  things,  with  baptizing 
children  of  parents  within  the  bounds  of  other 
congregations,  and  with  ])reaching  in  the  bounds 
of  a  neighboring  congregation  without  due  au- 
thority. How  strictly  bounded  parishes  must 
have  been  in  that  day. 

In  Hackettstown,  as  in  other  places,  there  ex- 
isted such  prejudice  against  the  colored  race  that 
it  was  only  after  much  consultation  and  misgiv- 
ing that  it  was  decided  to  allow  the  burial  of  col- 
ored persons  in  the  lower  part  of  the  graveyard. 

Education  has  never  been  neglected  in  the 
Presbytery,  as  the  paper  given  to-day  on  educa- 
tion will  testify.  C3n  August  8,  1849,  it  was  re- 
ported to  Presbytery  that  it  was  contemplated  to 
establish  a  Parochial  School  within  the  bounds  of 
the  Oxford  congregation.  Presbytery  thereupon 
recommended  the  congregation  to  the  Board  of 
Education  for  the  sum  of  $75  to  be  applied  to  the 
support  of  teachers  and  for  $100  toward  the  erec- 
tion of  a  school  building. 

In  1857  there  were  parochial  schools  at  German 
Valley  and  Upper  Mt.  Bethel,  as  well  as  at  New- 
ton and  Blairstown.  Miss  Anna  Condit,  daugh- 
ter of  Rev.  T.  B.  Condit,  who  was  for  a  time  a 
teacher  in  India,  became  later  a  jjarochial  teacher 
at  her  home  in  Stillwater. 


50  THE  rRESJJVTERY  OF  XEWTOX 

At  the  formation  of  Newton  Presbytery  one- 
half  of  a  fund  that  had  been  left  for  educational 
purposes  to  the  mother  Presbytery  of  New 
Brunswick  was  given  to  this  Presbytery,  and  this 
together  with  funds  raised  from  churches  she 
employed  in  supporting  needy  candidates.  This 
fund  in  1835  was  contributed  as  a  permanent 
scholarship  of  the  Presbytery  to  Lafayette  Col- 
lege. In  the  year  1868  resolutions  are  recorded 
on  John  I.  Blair's  offer  to  rebuild  Blair  Academy. 
May  4.  1869,  ^Ir.  John  I.  Blair,  at  a  meeting  of 
Presbytery,  intimated  his  intention  of  transfer- 
ring Blairstow^n  Academy  to  a  Board  of  Trustees 
of  Presbytery.  Presbytery  accepted  his  offer  and 
appointed  the  Board.  Presbytery  also  recom- 
mended that  all  people  and  churches  who  could 
"furnish  rooms  as  soon  as  required  with  all  suit- 
able furniture  and  bedding:"  By  action  of  Pres- 
bytery, the  institution  was  called  "Blair  Presby- 
terial  Academy."  From  this  time  on  there  are 
many  records  of  Mr.  Blair's  generosity  toward 
the  institution. 

By  the  will  of  James  Goodw^in,  dated  1852,  pro- 
bated 1857,  Presbytery  was  bequeathed  a  fund  to 
be  used  for  Foreign  or  Domestic  Missions,  as 
Presbytery  deemed  fit.  But  since  the  work  at  Al- 
pha has  been  under  the  Presbytery's  care,  the 
benefit  of  the  Goodwin  fund  has  gone  there. 
While  the  fund  is  small — about  $3,000 — yet  in 
the  days  of  its  bequest  it  had  a  value  double  that 
of  our  day.  It  shows  the  spirit  and  vision  of  mis- 
sions and  missionary  zeal.  Harmony  and  Ox- 
ford First  were  beneficiaries  in  the  same  will,  and 
upon  their  ceasing  to  be  Presbyterian  churches 
the  Presbytery  comes  into  possession  of  their 
shares  in  the  Goodwin  bequest. 


THK  i>in<:s]iVTKrvV  of  xewtox  :a 

In  igoo,  under  the  provisions  of  the  will  of  yir. 
Henry  W.  Merriam,  his  home  at  IMain  Street  and 
Maple  Avenue,  Newton,  came  into  possession  of 
the  Board  of  Ministerial  Relief,  to  be  used  as  a 
Home  for  disabled  ministers.  Thereupon  the  old 
Westminster  House  at  P^erth  Amboy  was  aban- 
doned and  all  residents  in  the  Perth  Amboy 
Home  were  transferred  to  the  Merriam  Home. 
The  residence  includes  about  four  acres  of  land 
and  a  couple  of  cottages,  a  green  house  and  sta- 
ble, with  all  the  appurtenances  including  the 
household  furniture,  pictures,  plate,  books,  orna- 
ments, etc.  Mr.  Merriam  was  very  much  inter- 
ested in  the  work  of  Ministerial  Relief  and  he 
showed  his  interest  in  this  manner,  and  in  addi- 
tion put  at  the  disposal  of  the  Board  as  a  perma- 
nent fund,  $30,000,  the  interest  of  which  is  used 
to  keep  the  property  in  good  repair,  and  if  there 
is  any  money  left  at  the  end  of  the  year,  it  may  be 
used  for  the  maintenance  of  the  Home. 

The  influence  of  Xewton  Presbytery  is  and 
will  be  felt  far  beyond  her  own  borders  for  ever 
since  the  earlv  labors  of  Mr.  Webster  and  Dr. 
Junkin  in  the  coal  fields  she  has  sent  out  laborers 
into  other  parts  of  the  country,  even  into  foreign 
lands.  Notable  among  these  are  the  following : 
From  Belvidere  L,  Rev.  Henry  M.  Bruen,  to  Ko- 
rea ;  From  Belvidere  Second :  James  \V.  Hawke, 
a  missionary  in  Persia ;  Theodore  L.  Byington, 
missionary  in  Bulgaria  and  Constantinople.  From 
Bloomsbury :  Mrs.  James  A'anDyke  (nee  Miss 
Mary  Gardner)  to  Siam ;  Rev.  Clearfield  Parks 
into  the  ministry;  Mr.  John  Dalrymplc,  Army  Y. 
M.  C.  A.  Secretary.  From  Hackettstown :  Rev. 
Thomas   McAuley   Simanton,  pastor  at   Chester, 


o2  THE  rRESBYTEKY  OF  XEWTOX 

X.  Y. ;  Rev.  Warren  R.  \\'ard.  pastor  Westmin- 
ster Church,  Philadelphia. 

From  Harmony :  Rev.  Samuel  Galloway  :  Rev. 
E.  Clarke  Cline  ;  Rev.  John  Harold  Davison,  mis- 
sionary to  Japan  in  the  M.  E.  Church.  His  sister 
is  the  wife  of  Rev.  Dr.  Julius  Soper,  of  the  M.  E. 
^fission,  Aoyama,  Japan :  Rev.  Thomas  T. 
]\Iutchler,  president  of  the  International  Federa- 
tion of  Sunday  Rest  Associations  of  America ; 
Wm.  Cline,  who  cut  off  his  colle^^e  course  to  en- 
ter the  ministry ;  Rev.  Joseph  Howell  of  Easton, 
Pa.,  a  grandson  of  the  church. 

From  Lafayette :  Rev.  James  N'orthrup,  once 
an  attendant  at  the  church.  From  ^lusconetcong 
\'alley :  Rev.  Williard  Stires,  Xelsonville,  Ohio ; 
Rev.  Tillman  Rush.  From  Oxford  H  ;  Miss  Car- 
rie Lanterman,  missionary  to  Japan;  Miss  Ellen 
Scranton. 

From  Sparta:  Rev.  HoUoway  Hunt,  39  years 
pastor  at  Schooley's  Mountain ;  Rev.  Holloway 
Hunt,  his  cousin,  Centerville,  X.  Y. ;  Rev.  Z.  X". 
F>radbury,  Pulteney,  X.  Y.  From  Wantage  I : 
]\Irs.  Stacey  L.  Roberts  (nee  Evelyn  Millen),  Ko- 
rea. From  Xewton  :  Rev.  Edward  H.  Byington  : 
Rev.  Oscar  Hardin,  ?)eirut,  Syria ;  Rev.  Robert 
Spencer  Young. 

hYom  YelloAv  Frame:  Rev.  Caspar  Shafer,  yi. 
D.;  Rev.  Archibald  S.  Shafer:  Rev.  J.  D.  Decker; 
Rev.  John  Van  Xess.  From  Stillwater :  Rev. 
Isaac  H.  Condit ;  Aliss  Anna  Condit,  missionary  to 
India,  later  parochial  teacher  in  Stillwater ;  From 
Asbur\-:  Rev.  F.  P.  Hiner;  Rev.  H.  L.  liowlbv, 
D.I).' 


TllK  IMJKSl'.VrinfV  Ol'  XKWTOX  .38 

Lollop  and  worthy  has  been  the  record  of  this 
Presbytery;  great  is  the  opportunity  before  it. 
In  these  troubled  times  it  seems  pecuHarly  fit- 
ting to  recall  the  courage,  the  constancy,  the  con- 
secration, which  have  made  history  from  the  ear- 
liest pioneer  to  the  patriot  of  today.  And  if 
"these  all,"  "obtained  a  good  report  through 
faith,"  is  it  not  equally  true  that  God  has  "pro- 
vided some  better  thing  for  us,  that  they  without 
us  should  not  be  made  perfect?" 

ALPHA. 

Oil  Xovember  5,  1906,  the  Magyar  Evangelical  Refoniieci 
Church  of  Alpha  presented  a  petition,  signed  by  7(5  of  its 
coinmiinicant  members,  all  of  them  men,  living  at  Alpha 
and  its  neighboring  hamlet.  Vulcanite,  to  be  received  under 
the  care  of  the  Presbytery,  the  petition  giving  as  the 
reasons,  the  hope  that  union  with  the  Presbyterian  Church 
with  its  oversight  and  care  would  be  greatly  helpful  to 
their  spiritual  life  and  promote  their  zeal  and  efi'iciency  in 
the  service  of  their  Saviour,  feeling  as  they  do  the  need  of 
such  help,  separated  from  the  church  of  their  Fatherland 
and  their  home,  now  in  this  country  are  brought  so  near 
the  people  of  the  Presbyterian  polity  and  faith. 

The  petition  had  been  presented  to  the  Committee  of 
the  Synod  and  referred  by  them  to  the  Presbytery.  The 
church  was  accordingly  taken  under  the  care  of  the  Pres- 
bytery, Synod  and  Presbytery  sharing  equally  to  the 
amount  of  $250  towards  its  support  for  six  months. 

A  committee  to  organize  the  church  reported  on  A})ril 
9,  1907,  that  tlie  church  had  been  fully  organized  and  incor- 
porated. The  Alpha  Portland  Cement  Company  and  the 
Vulcanite  Portland  Cement  Company  respectively  contril)- 
uted  $2o0  for  the  support  of  the  church. 

For  a  number  of  years  this  latest  born  child  of  the 
Presbytery  was  helped  by  contributions  and  loans  bur  in 
April."  19lV),  the  church  i)aid  its  final  indebtedness  to  Pres- 
bytery and  the  title  to  the  property  was  turned  over  to  the 
Trustees  of  the  Alpha  Magyar  Church. 


04  TFIK  Pin<:S]'>VTEl{V  OK  XKW'IOX 

The  Elders  are  John  Gubics,  Louis  Gubics,  Stephen  Kis, 
Alexander  Konya,  Joseph  Madi,  Julius  Nagy,  Charles 
Nemeth,  James  Palovics,  John  Remport,  Louis  Szabo,  John 
Varga,  Joseph  Varga. 

The  list  of  pastors  is  as  follows:  Rev.  John  Ujlaky, 
S.  S.,  1908-190!);  Rev.  Rudolph  H.  Ponipl.  1909-1910;  Rev! 
Charles  G.  Dezsy,  1910-1917;  Rev.  Michael  Toth,  1917-  . 

ANDOVER. 

A  petition  for  the  organization  of  this  church  was 
presented  on  April  7,  1858,  and  the  church  was  accordingly 
organized  with  nine  members  on  certificate  and  three  by 
profession  of  faith.  Thirty-five  additional  names  were 
recorded  the  following  year.  The  following  ruling  elders 
were  chosen:  John  S.  Broderick,  Jehiel  T.  Smith,  John  D. 
Reynolds,  and  Wm,  F.  Iliff. 

The  church  was  erected  and  dedicated  in  the  year  1858 
upon  grounds  donated  by  Wm.  F.  Iliff.  The  structure  con- 
sisted of  brick,  one  story,  and  the  second  story  of  lumber, 
and  the  original  cost  was  $3,000.  A  Sabbath  School  was 
promptly  established.  There  has  been  no  change  in  the 
location  of  either  building,  services,  or  Sabbath  School,  aiul 
the  building  has  always  been  used  exclusively  by  its  own 
denomination. 

In  1873  a  building  was  purchased  to  be  used  as  a  manse 
— price  paid,  $3,000,  but  on  account  of  undesirable  location, 
the  property  was  soon  disposed  of,  and  a  new  manse 
erected  in  a  more  suitable  place. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  John  Hancock  41  new 
members  joined  the  church  on  profession  of  faith  and  two 
by  letter.  Rev.  J.  M.  Huntting  filled  the  pulpit  for  nine 
years,  the  longest  period  reached  by  any  pastor.  In  1895 
Mr.  Sylvester  R.  White  bequeathed  a  building  estimated 
at  about  $5,000. 

The  present  elders  are:  George  Shotwell.  Jolm  W. 
Thompson,  Andrew  Dobin,  Wm.  S.  Slater. 

The  list  of  pastors  is  as  follows:  Rev.  J.  Sanford 
Smith.  1858-1862;  Rev.  Chas.  Milne,  18(33-1865;  Rev.  A.  S. 
Collins,  (Supply)  1865-1865;  Rev.  R.  B.  Westbrook.  (Sup- 
plv)  1865-1866 i  Pvev.  Mvron  Barrett.  (Supi)ly)  1867-1868; 
Rev.  David  C'onwav.  (Stated  Supply)  1868-1871:  Rev.  Kd- 
wnnl  Weill),   1871-1873:    Pvev.  B.  S.   Foster.   1873-187(5:    Mow 


Till':  iMU':si;\'rKi{\'  of  xkw  rox  r^7^ 

John  Hancock,  (Supply)  1870-1877;  Rev.  Juliii  F.  Shaw, 
1877-1881;  Kev.  E.  L.  Dodder.  (Supply)  1881-1883;  Rev.  J. 
M.  Huiittino,  1883-1893;  Rev.  H.  P.  McHeniy,  1893-1898; 
Rev.  \\'.  J.  :\Iewhinney,  1898-1901;  Rev.  James  rrovan, 
1902-19U4;  Rev.  W.  S.  C.  Webster.  190.5-1910;  Rev.  X.  S. 
Recker.  1911-191.-);  Rev.  J.  C.  Lane,  1910. 

ASBURY. 

The.  Asbury  Cliurch  wa.s  a  colony  of  the  Musconetcong 
\'alley  Church,  a  Sabbath  School  being  conducted  there, 
under  the  direction  of  the  Valley  church,  and  the  pastor 
preaching  there  once  a  month.  These  services  were  held 
in  Asbuiy  Academy,  erected  al:out  18.")0  on  land  given  by 
the  Van  Antwerp  estate  for  school  and  church  pur])oses. 
The  property  was  held  by  the  trustees  of  the  \'alley 
church  until  an  organized  church  sliould  be  established  in 
Asbury. 

In  1860  the  question  of  holding  weekly  services  in 
Asbury  was  raised,  but  it  being  impossible  to  decide  the 
(question  in  the  church,  the  matter  was  referred  to  Pres- 
l)ytery  with  the  result  that,  it  was  decided  to  organize  a 
church  in  Asbury.  This  was  done  October  10.  1800.  by  a 
((juimittee  of  Presbytery.  Rev.  (icorge  C  Bush.  Chairman, 
with  28  charter  members,  26  being  received  by  letter  from 
the  Musconetcong  Valley  Church,  and  two  from  the  church 
at  Stewartsville. 

^Messrs.  AVilliam  Creveling  and  Philip  Mutchler,  elders 
in  the  Valley  Church,  also  Messrs.  Isaac  Bennett  and 
Jolm  B.  Lunger,  were  orgained  and  installed  the  first 
elders.  At  this  time  the  Academy  ])assed  into  the  hands  of 
the  new  organization,  the  first  Board  of  Trustees  being 
Abraham  N.  Carjtenter.  Wilson  B.  Hevener.  Daniel  Runkle 
and  John  A.  Willever. 

The  first  ]Moderator  of  the  session  was  Rev.  A.  H.  Hand, 
1).  D.,  of  Greenwich.  Rev.  James  R.  Eckard.  D.  D..  a  pro- 
fessor in  Lafayette  College,  served  as  stated  supply  from 
1800  to  1867,  when  he  asked  to  l)e  permitted  to  resign 
owing  to   failing  health. 

The  sanie  year  Mr.  Samuel  Creveling  donated  a  lot  for 
the  erection  of  a  church  building  and  there  was  also  an 
opportunity  to  sell  the  Academy  property  to  the  township 
for  public  school  ]mrposes.  It  was  accordinglv  sold  for 
$1 .900. 


;!<;  THE  l^l^l-:si5\Ti:i{V  OF  XKWTOX 

P'rom  1867  to  18G8  the  church  had  temporary  supplies, 
then  Franklin  E.  Miller,  a  senior  in  Princeton  *  Seminary, 
was  invited  to  supply  the  pulpit.  The  result  was  a  call  t») 
him  to  become  the  tirst  pastor.  He  was  ordained  and  in- 
stalled July  14,  1868. 

During  the  first  year  of  his  ministry  the  new  church 
building,  a  brick  structure,  was  completed  at  a  cost  of 
about  $15,000,  and  dedicated  in  September.  18(59. 

The  list  of  pastors  is  as  follows: 

Ilex.  Frank    E.    Miller 1868-1871 

llev.  David    Conway    1871-1876 

E,ev.  George   W.   Tomson    1876-1885 

Rev.  D.   M.   Hazlett    1885-1886 

Rev.  Thornton  A.  Mills,  Ph.D.   1887-1889 

Rev.  R.  A.  Bryant  1889-1896 

Rev.  Phineas  B.   Kennedy   1898-1900 

Rev.  F.  L.  Cornish 1901-1902 

Rev.  E.   B.   England,   S.  S. 1902-1905  P.  1905-1914 

Rev.  Robert  Robinson 1915- 

During  the  pastorate  of  Mr.  Tomson  the  church  parson- 
age was  erected  at  a  cost  of  about  $5,000.  Payment  of  this 
was  completed  in  1882.  and  at  this  time  Mr.  Daniel  Runkle 
purchased  and  donated  to  the  church  the  two  lots  adjoining 
the  ])ars()nage,  thus  completing  the  church  lot. 

The  present  Session  consists  of  Elders  J.  A.  Hulsizer. 
T.  A.  Wolverton.  J.  B.  Tigar,  and  ^Y.  E.  Hiner.  The  church 
has  been  hampered  by  the  changing  conditions  of  rural  life. 
It  attained  its  highest  membership,  189,  during  Mr.  Bry- 
ant's  pastorate.      The  present   membership  is   109. 

The  temporalities  of  the  church  have  always  had  careful 
and  efiicient  management.  Among  others,  "the  late  \Vm. 
Runkle  and  Samuel  A.  Bristol  gave  particular  care  to  the 
develo})ment  of  the  church  and  cemetery.  The  former,  by 
liis  will,  left  a  substantial  sum  to  the  church,  one-half  of 
the  iiuome  to  be  applied  to  the  current  expenses,  the  other 
to  the  upkeep  of  the  cemetery.  The  latter  made  the 
cemetery  the  special  object  of  his  care,  sparing  neither 
time  nor  means  in  its  im])rovoinent. 


TIIK  IMIKSjnTKllV  OF  XKW  TOX  r,? 

BEATTYSTOWN. 

This  church  was  organized  May  31,  1886,  bj  ministers 
under  the  leadership  of  Rev.  John  Lowrey,  and  incorporated 
Xov.  3.  of  tlie  same  year.  The  ori<;inal  session  consists  of 
Wni.  White,  H.  D.  White,  Jacob  Skinner,  and  Lewis  T. 
Labar.  The  trustees  were:  L.  T.  Labar,  Ezra  Johnson, 
and  James  Fisher. 

The  congregation  originally  worshipped  in  a  school 
l)iiil(liji<z  after  which  a  frame  e<lifice  was  erected,  the  prop- 
erty being  acquired  partly  by  gift  and  partly  by  purchase. 

The  church  enjoyed  revivals  during  the  pastorates  of 
Rev.  Mr.  Parsons  and  Rev.  Mr.  Baillie.  The  present  elders 
are:  H.  D.  White,  Wm.  White.  Jacob  Skinner.  L.  T.  Labar. 
and  C.  Aug.   S.   Gulick. 

The   list   of  pastors   is   as   follows:      Rev.   Wm.   J.   (lill.. 

The  list  of  pastors  is  as  follows:  Rev.  Wm.  J.  Gill. 
(Sui)plv).  Rev.  Edward  Pavson  Crane  (Supplv),  Rev. 
Thomas  Thompson.  1888-1891;  Rev.  Philip  Ree.se.  1891- 
1894;  Rev.  George  H.  S.  Campbell.  1895-1899;  Rev.  J.  \\\ 
Bell.  1900-1901  (died  wliile  pastor)  ;  Rev.  L.  B.  Plunier. 
1903-1907;  Rev.  Richardson  Gray,  1907-1914;  Rev.  J.  D. 
Hillman,  1914-   . 

BEEMERVILLE. 

This  churc  li  was  organized  .July  1.].  1S34.  with  a  mem- 
bership of  122.  chiefly  from  the  First  Church  of  Wantage. 
The  first  Presbyterian  jireaching  there  was  probably  that 
of  Rev.  Gershom  AVilliams,  pastor  at  Wantage,  in  1817.  in 
the  Old  Log  Church  or  Union  ]\[eeting  House,  at  the  foot 
of  the  Blue  Mountains.  At  the  Van  Sickle  School  House 
north  of  Beemerville.  in  1824,  occurred  the  first  of  a  series 
of  revivals,  resulting  in  the  addition  of  154  to  the  Clove  or 
Wantage  Church.  Anu)ng  these  were  "the  Revolutionary 
soldier  of  seventy-seven  and  the  child  of  twelve  years." 

In  1833  the  membership  at  Wantage  was  over  five  hun- 
dred and  from  necessity  more  enlarged  accommodations 
had  to  be  provided.  It  was  to  the  best  interests  of  all, 
owing  to  distance  and  other  considerations,  that  a  new 
church    be    organized.      Apjilication    to    the    Presbytery    of 


r.s  'iiiK  PiM":s]n'ii:i:v  of  xi-:\\  r(»\ 

Newark  was  accordingly  made  and  the  Wantage  Second 
Church  was  organized.  A  new  stone  church  was  built  at 
Beenierville,  40x60  feet  at  a  cost  of  $300.  It  was  tinished 
in  neat  style,  steeple,  bell,  lamps,  carpeted  aisles,  and  was 
dedicated  Jan.  4,  1835.  Rev.  Edward  Allen  preached  the 
dedicatory  sermon,  and  became  stated  suppl3\  During  his 
encumbency  a  parsonage  was  secured.  At  this  time  the 
elders  were:  Jacob  Avers,  Henry  Beemer,  and  Daniel  \'an 
Auken. 

Rev.  Peter  Kanouse,  the  second  pastor,  had  been  a 
blacksmith  until  thirty  years  of  age.  His  was  the  longest 
pastorate  and  a  wonderfully  successful  one.  At  each  of 
two  revival  seasons  more  than  a  hundred  converts  were 
brought  into  the  church,  until  its  membership  numbered  323. 

In  1844  the  old  Congregational  Church  known  as  Beemer 
Church,  dating  back  to  1742,  and  whose  building  is  still 
standing  not  far  from  Papakating,  was  dissolved,  and  its 
nineteen  members  transferred  to  the  Beenierville  Church. 
The  property  of  that  church  is  held  in  trust  by  the  trustees 
of  the  Beenierville  Church. 

Mr.  Crossette,  pastor  during  the  Civil  War,  as  well  as 
Mr.  Kanouse,  kept  a  select  school  in  the  parsonage.  In 
1888  we  find  this  record:  "The  only  licensed  dram  shoj) 
in  the  neighborhood  has  been  closed,"  a  fact  true  twice 
since  and  both  times  through  the  efforts  chiefly  of  tiie 
church. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Mr.  Higgins  a  C.  E.  Society 
grew  out  of  a  young  people's  prayer  meeting  and  is  still 
doing  good  work.  In  1903  the  name  was  changed  from 
Wantage  to  Beenierville.  The  church  building  was  re- 
decorated in  1912,  and  since  then  eleven  stained  glass 
memorial  windows  have  been  placed   in  the  church. 

The  old  parsonage  has  been  turned  into  a  community 
house,  wntli  a  library,  etc.,  furnished  by  the  aid  of  ^Ir. 
James  N.  Jarvie,  who  also  donated  a  pipe  organ  to  the 
church. 

The  elders  elected  in  1899  were  John  B.  Compton. 
E.  Willis  Clark,  and  Henry  S.  Phillips,  the  last  named  of 
whom  died  Jan,  27,   1917. 

The  ])resent  eldership  is  as  follows:  Barrett  X.  Van 
Auken,  Merritt  L.  Hockenbury,  John  B.  Coinpton. 


THK   IM'vKSin  rKK\'  OF  XKW  TOX  .lO 

The  list  of  pastors  is  as  follows:  Rev.  Edward  Allen, 
1S34-1841;  Rev.  Peter  Kauoiise,  1842-1854;  Rev.  Xatliaiiiel 
Leiglitou,  1854-1858;  Rev.  Robert  Crossette,  1859-1865; 
Rev.  Ambrose  C.  Smith,  D.  !>.,  (Supply)  Sept.,  1805-I)ec., 
l.S().);  Rev.  Stophfii  1).  Xoyes.  (Supply)  April,  ISOG-Sept.. 
lS(Ui;  Rev.  Aiulrew  Tiilly.'  18()7-187o;  Rev.  Win.  F.  Arms, 
(Supply)  1873-1875;  Rev.  Charles  E.  Burns,  D.  D..  1877- 
1878;  Rev.  Charles  P.  Glover,  1879-1886;  Rev.  Glenorie 
.\lc(,)neen.  1).  1)..  (Su].plv)  18S7-188S;  Rev.  Alexander  M. 
Higgiiis,  1889-1898;  Rev.  Joseph  Dixon,  1899-190;i;  Rev. 
\Vm.  U.  Vestervelt,  1904-1914;  Rev.  Albert  N.  Millison, 
1917-    . 

BELVIDERE   FIRST. 

This  church  was  organized  Xov.  25,  1834,  its  charter 
members  coming  from  the  churches  of  Oxford,  X.  J.,  and 
Easton,  Pa.  The  elders  elected  were  George  R.  King, 
W  illiam  C.  Morris.  Chapman  Warner,  and  John  M.  Sher- 
rerd,  late  elders  in  the  Oxford  church. 

Its  antecedent  history  dates  back  to  the  days  when 
Belvidere  was  nuide  the  county  seat  of  Warren  County. 
We  read,  "The  tract  of  land  on  which  Belvidere  stands 
was  l)Ought  from  the  Indians  by  Penn.  *  *  ""'  Considera- 
ble was  done  in  the  way  of  freighting  in  the  river  in  what 
were  known  as  J)urham  boats.  But  the  place  was  a 
hamlet.  *     *     In     1820    there    were    but    twenty-eight 

houses  here;  '"■  "  ""  what  accelerated  and  stimulated 
the  growth  of  the  ])lace  was  not  a  natural  cause,  such  as 
the  im])rovement  of  its  fine  water  power,  but  a  ))olitical. 
It  was  in  1824  that  by  act  of  the  Legislatnre  the  County 
of  Warren  was  set  oft  from  Sussex.  The  question  of  the 
h)cation  of  the  county  seat  was  submitted  to  the  citizens 
of  the  county  *  *  "■  and  Belvidere  was  successful. 
*  *  *  ■"-  With  the  fixing  of  the  county  seat  here  the 
village  began  to  enlarge.     ''     "     * 

"In  1826  at  a  time  when  the  Oxford  congregation  was 
withont  a  stated  ministry  a  Mr.  Ashbridge.  who  was  just 
through  his  theological  studies  at  Princeton,  came  and 
spent  several  weeks  with  it.  Amid  other  labors  he  preached 
a  number  of  times  in  Belvidere  and  visited  every  family  in 
the  place.  The  meetings  gathered  in  a  room  in  the 
Croxall  mansion,  which  had  been  designed  as  a  ball-room. 
Thenceforward  this  service  was  maintained  Sabbath  after- 


no  TIIK  PrvKSIiVTKKV  OF  Xi^W'lOX 

noon  or  evening  as  part  of  the  duty  of  the  Oxford  minister. 
A  little  later  it  was  held  in  the  Court  House.      ■      "      ■ 

"In  the  same  period  falls  the  institution  of  a  Sabbath 
school  and  a  prayer  meeting.  *  *  *  A  longer  stride  in 
the  same  direction  was  when  it  was  determined  to  build  a 
house  of  worshii).  .laniuuy  iOth,  1830,  a  meeting  "  "'• 
was  held,  at  which  steps  were  taken  to  form  a  corporation; 
and  seven  trustees  were  chosen.  The  corporate  name  was 
'The  Presbyterian  Church  of  Belvidere.'  Four  ofiers  of 
ground' were  made.  That  of  David  Carlile,  *  *  of  two 
lots  on  the  west  side  of  the  public  square,  was  accepted. 
The  deed,  executed  July  18,  1831,  contains  as  consideration 
the  sum  of  $500.  Building  began  in  1831  (July),  and  work 
went  on  till  completion,  late  in   1834. 

"The    building     *  was    of    stone,    broad-pointed 

and  brushed  so  that  it  had  a  whitewashed  look.  A  square 
frame  tower,  not  completed  till  1840.  rose  from  the  center 
front.  A  higher  flight  of  steps  than  the  present  ones  led 
to  a  single  door  in  the  middle.  There  were  two  windows 
in  the  front;  and  at  each  corner  were  doors  of  entrance  to 
a  basement,  the  rear  part  of  which  only  was  for  some 
years  finished  for  use  and  employed  not  only  for  church 
purposes  but  also  for  a  school  during  the  week.  The  one 
main  door  introduced  to  a  two  story  lobby.  Two  doors 
opened  thence  into  tlie  audience  room.  It  had —  '""  "  * 
four  long  pointed-topped  windows  on  a  side.  A  galleiy 
ran  around  three  sides,  and  the  pulpit  was  between  the 
doors.  A  solid  central  double  block  of  pews  faced  the 
pulpit.  The  side  pews  ran  to  the  wall;  and  in  each  of  the 
two  rows  were  two  large  square  pews,  one  at  the  front 
and  the  other  half  way  down  the  row.  The  house  was 
heated  by  stoves;  and  the  long  horizontal  ])ii)es  were 
])rovided  with  troughs  beneath  to  .catch  any  drip  fiom  the 
chimnevs.  The  total  cost  was  in  the  neighborhood  of 
$7,000." 

The  year  1848  was  a  year  of  revival.  The  same  year. 
January  1,  the  parsonage  property  was  bought  for  $1.«)00. 
On  July  19,  1849.  one  of  the  county  ])ai)ers  contained  a 
notice  that  Rev.  Edward  Allen  would  preach  the  next 
Sabbath  evening  at  the  New  Academy,  where  a  new  churdi 
organization  was  to  be  formed.  Fourteen  persons  were 
later  dismissed  to  this  new  church,  which  is  now  the 
Second   Cliurch  of   Belvidere. 


THK  PKESJiV'lKKV  OF  XKWTOX  01 

In  1854  leijairs  \vere  made  consisting  of  painting,  car- 
peting and  improving  the  lighting  of  the  audience  room, 
and  in  putting  blinds  to  the  building.  In  January,  1855, 
the  church  Avas  providentially  delivered  from  fire  which 
broke  out  in  the  basement,  but  was  subdued  finally  after 
tlireatening   the  whole   building. 

In  1859  the  new  church  was  built  at  a  cost  of  $9,000, 
all  of  which  was  raised  prior  to  i^  dedication  on  August  23. 

In  1870  when  the  Old  and  New  Schools  united  there 
was  a  reconstruction  of  Xewton  along  with  other  Presby- 
teries, and  Belvidere  was  the  only  instance  of  Old  and 
New  School  congregations  existing  in  the  same  place.  An 
effort  was  made  to  unite  them,  but  without  result. 

In  1882  extensive  repairs  were  made  to  the  church 
building,  including  the  spire,  the  roof,  and  the  interior  of 
the  church. 

In  the  early  days  the  singing  in  this  church  was  led  by 
choristers,  who  also  taught  a  congregational  singing  school 
and  received  a  salary  for  their  services.  It  was  not  until 
1850  that  a  melodeon  was  introduced. 

The  list  of  pastors  is  as  follows:  Rev.  Isaac  X.  Candee. 
1834-1840;  Rev.  James  Clark.  1840-1850:  Rev.  Henrv 
Reeves,  1850-1858;  Rev.  William  Henry  Kirk.  1858-18(56; 
Rev.  David  Tully.  1866-1872;  Rev.  Fiillerton  Reck  Har- 
baugh.  1872-18741  Rev.  William  Alexander  Hollidav.  1874- 
1884;    Rev.  J.  de  Hart   Bruen.   1884-   . 

BELVIDERE  SECOND. 

This  church  was  organized  August  20,  1849.  under  the 
authority  of  the  Fourth  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia,  with 
27  charter  members.  These  had  joined  in  communication 
to  the  Fourth  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia  (which  Presby- 
tery was  connected  with  what  was  then  known  as  the  New 
School  Element  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United 
States)  stating  their  desire  to  organize  a  Second  Presby- 
terian church  in  Belvidere,  and,  receiving  encouragement, 
had  invited  Rev.  Edward  Allen,  then  teaching  a  private 
classical  school  in  Belvidere.  to  become  their  pastor.  This 
invitation  being  accepted,  services  were  begun  in  the  Old 
Academy  building  on  the  corner  of  Greenwich  and  Third 
streets,  where  now  stands  the  now  Belvidere  High  School 
building. 


(52  'If IK   l'lJKSln■TKll^■  OF  XKW'loX 

A  Sabbath  School  was  forthwith  organized,  Dr.  John 
Marshall  Paul  being  its  superintendent  from  the  begin- 
ning to  the  time  of  his  death.  The  original  Session  con- 
sisted of  Dr.  J,  Marshall  Paul,  Theodore  S.  Paul,  and  Dr. 
R.  Byington.  The  trustees  elected  July  2t),  1850,  were 
Dr.  R.  Byington,  John  Stuart,  Ephraim  Kanip.  A.  B.  Cani])- 
bell,  Esq.,  Theodore  S.  Paul,  Israel  Harris,  and  Dr.  John  M. 
Paul. 

TJje  corner-stone  of  the  church  was  laid  August  20, 
1849,  Hon.  Daniel  Haines,  then  the  Governor  and  Chancellor 
of  Xew  Jersey,  and  an  elder  in  the  North  llardyston 
Presbyterian  church,  setting  the  stone.  The  building  is  of 
frame  with  stone  basement  and  slate  roof,  seating  250,  the 
original  cost  of  which  did  not  exceed  $2,500. 

It  is  built  on  a  lot  donated  for  that  purpose  by  the 
mother  of  Dr.  Paul,  who  died  many  years  before  the 
enterprise  was  undertaken,  but  with  the  hope  that  a  ciuirch 
representing  the  Xew  School  Element  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  might  be  erected  thereon.  Afterwards  in  1868  Dr. 
J.  M.  Paul  donated  to  the  church  a  large  tract  of  land  on 
the  hill  back  of  the  church  on  which  the  Stadleinan  insti 
tute  Building  was  erected,  for  parsonage  purposes,  with 
sufl'icient  funds  to  reconstruct  there  a  building  and  turn 
it  into  one  of  the  most  comfortable  manses  in  the  Presby- 
tery  of  Xewton. 

In  the  re-union  of  1870.  this  church  became  a  part  of 
Xewton   Presbytery. 

The  pastorates  during  which  the  church  recorded  great- 
est growth  were  those  of  Dr.  Ellin  wood.  Dr.  Dana.  Dr. 
Anderson  and  Dr.  Maxwell.  The  longest  pastorate  was 
that  of  Rev.  John  B.  Edmondson,  who  stayed  over  a  period 
of  nineteen  years,  during  all  of  which  time  there  were 
constant  additions  to  the  church  and  a  high  degree  of 
spirituality    maintained. 

The  present  eldership  is  as  follows:  James  Depue, 
Frank  P.  kafferts,  M.  D..  Henry  W.  Faust.  William  H. 
Morrow,  so  long  a  conspicuous  figure  in  this  church,  is  the 
only  other  elder  now  living. 

The  list  of  pastors  is  as  follows:  Edward  Allen.  1850- 
1852;  Rev.  Francis  F.  Ellinwood.  1853-1854;  Rev.  J.  Addison 
Whittaker,  1855-1859;  Rev.  Henry  S.  Osborn,  L.L.D..  1859- 
1866;    Rev.    S.   W.    Dana,   afterwards,   and    for   forty   years 


THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  XE\^"|•(>X  (i.S 

pastor  of  the  Walnut  Street  Presbyterian  Clmrcli  of  Phila- 
delphia, 1866-18(58;  Rev.  iSamuel  Hayt,  Jr.,  1869-1870; 
Rev.  J.  Marshall  Anderson,  1870-1874;  Rev.  James  M. 
Maxwell,  D.D.,  1874-1880;  Rev.  Joseph  H.  Dullas,  1881- 
1883;  Rev.  \Ym.  C.  McGarvey,  1883-1888;  Rev.  Walter  H. 
Ayers,  1889-1890;  Rev.  John  B.  Edmondson,  1891-1911; 
Rev.  Walter  H.  Stone,  Ph.D.,  1912. 

BLAIRSTOWN. 

This  church  is  a  child  of  the  Knowlton  church.  As 
early  as  1822  the  pastor  of  that  church,  the  Rev.  Jeremiah 
'laimad»ie.  i)reacht'd  in  "The  Old  Brick  Schoolhouse.''  on  the 
Hope  road  leading  from  Blairstown,  visited  the  families  of 
the  community,  and  required  the  study  of  the  Bible  and  the 
Sliorter  Catechism.  For  some  yeai:s  previous  to  the  organi- 
zation of  the  church.  Miss  Mary  Shipman  conducted  a 
Sabbath   School  in    the   schoolhouse. 

October  19,  1840,  the  church  was  organized  by  a  com- 
mittee of  Newton  Presbytery,  with  15  members,  all  of 
them  dismissed  from  the  Knowlton  church,  and  the  two 
churches  constituted  one  pastoral  charge  until  1854.  Philip 
Raub  and  Jacob  Lanterman  were  chosen  elders. 

March  22,  1839,  a  meeting  of  the  citizens  of  Blairstown 
was  held  for  the  purpose  of  electing  trustees  for  the  con- 
templated church  to  be  built.  Mr.  John  1.  Blair  was 
chosen  chairman  of  the  meeting  and  was  elected  President 
of  the  Board  of  Trustees.  Others  elected  to  the  Board  were 
Isaac  Crisnian.  Isaac  Wildrick,  Jacob  Lanterman.  Joseph 
Wildrick.  William  Lanterman.  and  John  Kunkle.  The 
church  was  built,  and  dedicated  December  10,  1840,  at  a 
cost  of  $2,865.  The  l)uilding  is  of  stone,  rough  cast.  40  by 
50  feet,  with  a  vestibule,  belfry  and  spire.  It  had  old- 
fashioned  doors  at  the  entrance  to  the  pews,  and  a  gallery 
ran  aromul  three  sides  of  the  church,  making  a  seating 
capacity  of  400. 

Nov.  1,  1848.  the  Session  resolved  to  open  a  parochial 
school  and  the  services  of  Dr.  I.  W.  Condit  were  secured  as 
teacher.  The  relation  between  this  school,  now  Blair 
Academv.  and  the  church  has  always  been  very  close,  tiie 
pastor  of  the  church  being  President  of  the  Board  of 
Directors.      Mr.   Jolm    I.    Blair,   from    the   founding   of    the 


04  THE  PKESBVTEUY  OF  NEW  TOX 

school  to  his  death.  Avas  its  constant  l.enofactor.  and  by 
his  wise  and  liberal  gifts  made  possible  its  development. 
His  son,  Mr.  D.  C.  Blair,  continued  the  good  work  of  his 
father,  and  gave  the  money  to  build  additional  structures, 
and  now  the  grandsons,  €.  Ledyard  Blair  and  J.  Insley 
Blair,  are  members  of  the  Board  of  Directors  and  continue 
the  benefactions. 

The  present  church  building  was  erected  at  a  cost  of 
$25,000  and  dedicated  Feb.  16,  1872.  the  dedicatory  sermon 
being  preached  by  Di*.  John  Hall  of  the  Fifth  Avenue 
Church  of  Xew  York  City.  This  building  is  now  uiuler- 
going  extensive  repairs. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Bev.  John  A.  Reiley  in  1S53 
there  was  a  revival  of  religion,  resulting  in  the  addition  of 
32  members  to  the  church  on  profession  of  faith  and  two 
by  certificate. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Dr.  James  Xewton  Armstrong, 
the  present  incumbent,  in  1916.  special  evangelistic  ser\ices 
were  held  for  men  only,  resulting  in  the  conversion  of 
many.  During  that  year  and  the  year  succeeding.  76 
persons  united  with  the  church.  38  of  them  on  profession 
of  faith. 

The  Woman's  Missionary  Society,  the  Simday  School, 
and  the  C.  E.  Society  have  always  done  steady,  efficient 
work.  A  Pastor's  Aid  Society  was  organized  in  11)08. 
which  has  proved  to  lie  of  yreat  1  enetit  to  the  cluirch  frcun 
a  social  standpoint.  It  has  been  so  diligent  in  earning 
money  that  its  gifts  have  paid  for  the  remodeling  of  the 
Sabbath  School  room  and  a  ])iano.  And  .tl.olO  have  b.een 
earned  by  the  society  for  repairs  of  the  main  auditorium, 
which  are  to  cost  $7,000.  The  Home  Dei)artment  of  the 
Sabbath  School  is  one  of  the  most  efficient  organizations 
of  the  church.     The  present  enrollment  is   111. 

The  elders  are  William  C".  Allen.  :\I.  D..  -lolin  E.  Bouton. 
Frank  P.  Bunnell.  DeWitt  C.  Carter.  Albert  M.  Freeman. 
Enos  H.  Freeman.  George  D.  Losey,  James  H.  Shannon. 

The  list  of  pastors  is  as  follows:  Bev.  Thaniel  B. 
Condit,  1841;  Rev.  David  Longmore.  (Supplv)  1842;  Rev. 
John  C.  Lowrey.  1843-1845;  Rev.  John  A.  Reiley.  1845- 
1866;  Rev.  Thomas  A.  Sanson.  1867-1883;  Rev.  Henry  S. 
Butler,  D.  D.,  1884-1007;  Rev.  Luther  Davis,  1908-1000; 
Rev.  James  Xewton  Armstrong.  D.   1)..   1909-   . 


THE  PKKSin'TKUV  OF  XKWTOX  Go 

BLOOMSBURY. 

This  chiirt'h  was  organized  October  29,  1857,  on  the 
authority  of  Newton  Presbytery,  with  42  charter  members, 
having  been  previously  a  mission  station  of  Greenwicli. 
The  need  of  a  Presbyterian  church  at  this  point  was 
occasioned,  at  least  in  part,  by  the  impetus  which  the 
place  received  from  the  extension  of  the  New  Jersey 
Central  Railroad  through  the  Musconetcong  valley  to  Eas- 
ton,  Pa.,  which  occurred  in  1852. 

Deeming  it  necessary  that  a  congregation  be  organized 
and  a  church  building  erected,  a  group  of  citizens  met 
informally  under  the  trees  at  the  residence  of  Robert  1. 
Smith,  the  result  of  which  meeting  was  a  petition  to  Pies- 
bytery  and  the  subsequent  organization  of  the  church. 

The  elders  were  James  Bird,  H.  R.  Kennedy,  William  J. 
Smith  and  William  Tinsman.  The  trustees  were  William 
S.  Gardner,  Abram  Hance,  and  Joseph  ^A'.  Willever. 

On  November  19,  1857,  Mr.  Adam  D.  Runkle  donated  and 
deeded  over  to  the  congregation  a  suitable  piece  of  land 
upon  which  to  erect  a  church  edifice.  On  this  land  the 
congregation,  which  had  previously  worshipped  in  a  school 
house,  built  a  frame  church,  44  by  68  feet,  with  a  seating- 
capacity  of  700.  at  a  cost  of  $5,583.  This  building  was 
later  damaged  by  a  storm  which  swept  through  the  valley, 
blowing  down  the  steeple,  cracking  the  bell,  and  otherwise 
injurinji  the  structure.  It  was  repaired,  however,  from  the 
foundation  up,  and  the  .same  building,  much  beautified 
within  recent  years,  still  stands. 

In  1861  this  church,  with  others,  was  transferred  to  the 
Presbytery  of  Raritan.  In  December  of  that  year  there 
was  great  religious  interest  manifested,  so  that  22  of  the 
young  people  were  admitted  to  the  church  on  profession 
of  faith,  as  well  as  others  by  certificate.  Early  in  1870 
another  revival  took  place,  as  a  result  of  which  43  were 
admitted    to    membership. 

In  1870.  also,  at  the  reunion  of  the  two  branehes  of  th'^ 
Presbyterian  church,  this  consregation  was  again  placed 
under  the  care  of  Newton  Presbytery,  its  name  IxMng 
])laced  on   the  roll  June  22. 

The  present  eldership  is  as  follows:  Theodore  Tinsman. 
William  Sherrer,  John  Lewdrop,  J.  A.  S.  Stone. 


(•)()  THI-:  I'JIKSI'.YTKIIV  OK  XKWTOX 

The  list  of  pastors  is  as  follows:  Kev.  W.  E.  Wester- 
velt,  1858-1861;  Rev.  Joseph  S.  VaiiDvke.  18()l-18tJ9;  Rev. 
H.  B.  Scott,  1869-1879;  Rev.  John  C.  CIvde.  1879-1901; 
Rev.  Irvin  F.  Wagner,  1902-1908;  Rev.  A. 'B.  Williamson, 
1908-1915;  Rev.  J.  S.  Butt.  1915-  . 

BRANCHVILLE. 

'rkis  c'hurdi  was  organi/ed  at  Au^^iista  in  1S20.  as  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Frankford,  under  the  author- 
ity of  the  Presbytery  of  Jersey.  There  were  fourteen 
charter  members,  12  by  profession  of  faith  and  two  by 
letter.  It  was  the  outgrowth  of  occasional  preaching  by 
Presbyterian  ministers  from  Newton  and  elsewhere,  and, 
from  time  to  time,  colportage  work  by  the  American  Tract 
Society.  As  a  result  of  systematic  missionary  effort  on 
the  part  of  two  theological  students  during  a  vacation 
period  of  1818,  Rev.  Enos  A.  Osborn  was  sent  to  labor  in 
the  field. 

Randal  Stivers  was  the  first  elder.  Ebenezer  Tuttie.  the 
first  deacon.  The  church  for  a  time  occupied  a  small  frame 
building,  built  in'  1827,  with  a  seating  capacity  of  2(K),  on 
land  deeded  by  Col.  John  Gustin  to  be  retained  as  long  as 
used  by  the  society.  This  building  was  sold  in  1875  for 
$100,  removed  and  used  as  a  barn  now  on  another  ]iart  of 
the  Gustin  farm,  where  Thomas  C.  Roe  now  lives.  Pi-e- 
vious  to  1827  the  congregation  had  worshi])])ed  in  the 
sehoolhouses  of  Augusta  and  Branchville. 

In  1856  the  location  was  changed  to  Branchville  and  the 
name  to  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Branchville.  A 
frame  edifice  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $3,000  on  land  given 
by  Simeon  H.  Stivers.     A  considerable  alteration  was  made 

to  this  building  in   1876  at  a  cost  of  $1,600. 

For  a  short  time  previous  to  1870  the  basement  was 
used  by  a  few  dissenting  church  people  in  the  community 
who  formed  the  nucleus  of  what  later  became  the  Branch- 
ville M.  E.  Church. 

Conspicuous  among  the  pastors  was  Rev.  George  W. 
Lloyd,  whose  two  pastorates  totalled  25  years.  He  was 
a  very  able  ])reacher  and  had  no  mean  ability  in  poetry. 
He  was  an  Englishman  by  birth  and  training  but  a  staunch 
advocate  and  supporter  of  the  Union  during  the  Civil  War. 


THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  XE\V  TON  67 

The  present  eldership  is  as  follows:  Irving  X.  Roe, 
Samuel  Smith.  Boyd  S.  Ely,  George  A.  Buchanan,  Clayton 
Davenport,  and  John  C.  Hunt. 

The  list  of  pastors  is  as  follows:  Stated  Supplies.  Rev. 
Enos  A.  Osborn,  1819;  Rev.  Burr  Baldwin,  1821 ;  ilev. 
Nathan  J.  Conklin,  1824;  Rev.  Ezra  F.  Dayton,  1833; 
Jlev.  Nathaniel  Beach,  1837;  Rev.  Joseph  N'ance,  1838; 
Rev.  Bethuel  Farrand.  1842;  Rev.  Alfred  Ketcham.  1848; 
Rev.  George  W.  Lloyd,  1857;  Pastors,  Rev.  Georjie  W. 
Lloyd,  1861;  Rev.  Peres  B.  Bonney,  1866;  Rev.  William  H. 
Belden,  1872;  Rev.  David  Stevenson,  1878;  Rev.  Thomas 
Fitzgerald,  1881;  Rev.  George  ^V.  Llovd,  1883;  Rev.  H. 
Munhall  Tlmrlow,  1899;  Rev.  Edward  Eels.  1903:  Rev. 
Jonathan   Greenleaf.   1906;    Rev.   \Villiam   C.   Perez.   1912. 

DANVILLE. 

This  cliurch,  located  at  (ireat  Meadows,  was  originally 
a  colony  from  Hackettstown.  Under  the  })reaching  of 
Rev.  Joseph  Campbell,  J).l)..  of  that  church,  a  little  com- 
pany was  formed  who.  in  June,  1823,  met  at  the  house  of 
Aaron  X'anBuskirk  for  the  purpose  of  adopting  some 
measures  to  build  a  church.  Li  October  of  that  year  a 
Board  of  Trustees  was  elected  as  follows:  Daniel  Vleit, 
Thomas  Pleming,  Jo.seph  Coryell.  John  Stinson.  AVilliam 
Ijorison,  W.   W.   Wilson,  Jaeob  Johnson. 

In  November.  1824,  a  stone  building  was  erected  at  a 
cost  of  $1,148.  but  it  was  not  completed  until  1832.  costing 
upwards  of  $2,000.  A  manse  situated  at  \'ienna  was  pur- 
chased for  $500  at  about  the  same  time. 

In  November.  1831,  a  committee  of  Newton  Presbytery 
met  in  the  Danville  church  to  organize  it.  John  H.  Flem- 
ing. David  X'reeland.  and  Vincent  Rnnyon  were  elected  the 
first  rilling  elders  and  were  ordained  to  the  oflFice  by  the 
Presbytery's  committee. 

For  a  number  of  years  the  church  was  dependent  upon 
supplies  appointed  by  Presbytery  until  the  first  regularly 
installed  i)astor  came  in  1841.  In  1863  the  original  church 
buildinji  was  remodeled,  and  in  1867  the  ]>resent  manse, 
adjoining  the  church,  was  secured  by  purchase.  Again  in 
1904,  the  building  was  remodeled  and  repaired  at  a  total 
cost  of  $1.1.')0.  while  dming  the  ministry  of  the  ])resent 
j)astor  both  church  and  manse  have  been  greatly  improved. 


as  THE  PUKSlJYTKlfV  OF  Xi.W'lOX 

Tlie  I'liurcli  has  four  elders.  Lewis  Merrill,  (ieorge  L. 
Williams,  Frank  Merrill,  and  Edward  Y.  Williams,  all 
active  in  the  Sabbath  School  as  teachers  and  oflicers,  and 
a  regularly  organized  Board  of  Trustees,  and  a  Ladies' 
Aid  Society,  which  supports  the  local  church  and  contri- 
butes to  the  Mission  Boards,  and  a  Junior  Home  and 
Foreign  Missionary  Society  well  sustained.  Hon.  C.  H. 
Albertson,  who  died  in  June,  1913,  was  ruling  elder  for  over 
fort^-four,  and  Siuulay  School  Su])erintendent  for  over 
forty-two  years. 

The  list  of  pastors  is  as  follows:  Rev.  Joseph  Campbell. 
D.D.,  Stated  Supply,  1820;  Rev.  Whitfield  Hunt,  S.  S,  five 
years;  Rev.  Mr.  Carpenter,  S.  S.,  one  and  a  half  years; 
Rev.  Richard  Graham,  S.  S. ;  Rev.  Jehiel  Talmadge,  S.  S. ; 
Rev.  Joseph  Worrell,  Pastor,  1841-1844;  Rev.  James  Hvnd- 
shaw,  S.  S.;  Rev.  Chas.  Milne,  S.  S.;  Rev.  Alex  McCand'less, 
Pastor,  1849;  Rev.  Ephraim  Simanton.  1851;  Rev.  A.  H. 
Hallow  ay,  1867;  Rev.  J.  P.  Clark.  1874;  Rev.  R.  A.  Brvant, 
1882;  Rev.  Geo.  H.  S.  Campbell,  1891;  Rev.  X.  P.  Crouse. 
1896;  Rev.  J.  P.  Crane,  1905;  Rev.  Otto  R.  W.  Klose.  1908- 
1917. 

DELAWARE. 

This  church  was  organized  in  the  village  of  Delaware 
by  the  authority  of  Xewton  Presbytery  on  Jime  7.  1871. 
It  was  originally  a  mission  of  the  Knowlton  church  and 
was  the  result  of  the  labors  of  Mr.  Wm.  H.  Hemingway 
and  Mr.  John  H.  Burd,  both  elders. 

The  original  Session  was:  Wm.  H.  Hemingway,  JohtJ 
Burd,  Dr.  L.  C.  Osmun.  The  trustees  were  Wm.  F.  Hutch- 
inson, C.   T.   James,  James   Prall. 

The  congregation,  which  originally  worshipped  in  the 
railroad  station,  built  in  1873,  the  same  year  in  which  the 
church  was  incorporated,  a  frame  building,  which  is  still 
in  use. 

The  piesent  elders  are:  John  Henry  Albertson.  and 
S.  Transue. 

The  list  of  pastors  is  as  follows:     Rev.   1).  F.  Lockerby. 
1871-1873;     Rev.    Andrew    Tullv,     1873-1875;     Rev.     Daniel 
Dirwelle,  1875-1885;   Rev.  R.  Hamill   Davis,  1885-1889;   Uev. 
Chas.  E.  Van  Allen,   1890-1895;   Rev.   Albert   L.  Kelly.   1895 
1898;    Rev.    J.    Edward   Grant,    1899-1901;    Rev.    Janu>s    \A'. 


THE  PKESP.VTKKY  OF  XKWTOX  01) 

Shearer,  1902-1904;  Kev.  J.  B.  Porter,  June,  1904-October, 
1904;  Rev.  Edward  A.  McLaury,  1905-1908;  Rev.  H.  W. 
Ewig,  1908-1909;  Rev.  Augustus  C.  KeOogg,  1910-  . 

FRANKLIN. 

This  church  was  organized  by  the  authority  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Newton  on  April  11,  1894,  with  40  members. 
It  was  begun  by  those  who  had  previously  belonged  to  the 
Reformed  Church  in  America,  but  Jiad  disbanded  because 
it  was  out  of  touch  with  the  Classis  of  Passaic. 

The  original  Session  was:  Rev.  Geo.  B.  Crawford, 
Thomas  J.  Troloar,  and  Alexander  Watt.  The  trustees 
were:  H.  C.  Lang,  Millard  F.  Goldsmith,  John  Dunstan, 
Jonatlian  C.  Stevens,  Frank  Lozaw,  and  Wm.  McBane. 

The  church  at  the  time  of  its  organization  occupied  the 
old  stone  edifice,  which  still  stands  in  the  borough  of 
Franklin,  built  by  the  people  of  that  community  in  1837 
who  organized  themselves  into  the  First  Particular  Church 
of  Hardystone,  Old  School  Baptist.  This  building  is  in 
good  repair  yet.  althoiigh  now  unused.  It  has  been  occu- 
pied by  different  denominations  in  turn.  After  the  davs 
of  the  Old  School  Baptists,  the  M.  E.  Church  and  the 
Presbyterian  Church  both  had  services  in  it.  Then  the 
Presbyterians  were  left  to  do  work  alone  in  the  community 
for  a  short  time.  Afterward  the  Dutch  Reformed  took  up 
the  work.  In  1894  the  work  was  again  given  back  int<i 
the  hands  of  the  Presbyterians,  when  the  old  church  and 
site  were  taken  nxer  fiom  the  Reformed  denomination  and 
are  still  owned  by  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

In  1914,  the  town  having  prospered  because  of  the  zinc 
mines,  the  people'built  a  fine  brick  structure  just  above  the 
old  stone  building,  about  3,000  feet  away.  The  site  was 
given  by  the  Xew  Jersey  Zinc  Company  and  the  edifice 
cost  about  $25,(K)0  and  is  well  ecjuipped  for  Sunday  School 
and  church  work. 

The  church  was  incorporated  May  21.  1894.  The  first 
l)astor.  Rev.  Geo.  B.  Crawford,  did  distinguished  service 
which  has  not  since  been  surpassed  in  the  history  of  the 
church,  for  during  his  pastorate  the  membership  increased 
from  40  to  140,  members  being  added  at  nearly  every 
community.  A  series  of  evangelistic  services  were  held  h'om 
October    to    April,    1915.    while    during    the    pastorate    of 


70  TiiK  nM:siiN'ii-:i;\-  oi'  xkw'iox 

Joseph   K.    Freed,    the    blind    evangelist,    Thomas    Houston 
conducted  services  in  the  church  with  some  success. 

The  present  Session  is  as  follows:  Rev.  Paul  J.  Stroh- 
auer,  Thomas  Treloar,  C.  K.  Clopper,  James  May,  and 
Frank  Edwards.  The  Board  of  Trustees  is  as  follows: 
Clarence  H.  Haight,  C.  W.  Mickel,  James  Stevens,  Geo.  K. 
Howe,  and  C.  R.  Ricker. 

The, list  of  pastors  is  as  follows:  Rev.  Geo.  B.  Craw- 
ford, 1894-1896;  Rev.  Joseph  K.  Freed.  1897-1901;  Rev. 
Henry  Hansman,  1902-1906;  Rev.  L.  B.  Plunier.  1907-1909; 
Rev.  *E.  C.  Holnian.  1910-1916;  Rev.  Paul  J.  Strohauer. 
1917-   . 


GREENWICH. 

This  church,  one  of  the  oldest  in  the  Presbytery,  was 
organized  in  1740  by  the  authority  of  the  Presbytery  of 
Xew  Brunswick,  and  served  by  supplies  sent  out  by  that 
Presbytery. 

By  1755  the  old  log  church  on  the  south  side  of  the 
Poha'tcong,  near  Silver  Hill,  had  becouie  so  dilaj)i(latc(l 
that  a  new  building  was  needed.  The  site  chosen  for  it 
was  about  a  mile  up  the  stream  and  on  the  west  bank, 
where  the  present  church  now  stands.  This  building,  which 
remained  in  good  condition  until  succeeded  by  the  ])resent 
one  in  1835,  must  have  been.  Dr.  Junkin  says,  "one  of  the 
best  church  edifices  of  its  day  and  retiected  honor  upon 
the  congregation  which,  at  so  early  a  day  and  in  troublous 
times,  could  erect  such  a  building.  It  was  of  solid  stone 
masonry.  *  *  *  *  49  by  38  feet,  with  walls  17  feet 
high;  ceiling  slightly  arched  across  the  narrow  dimension 
of  the  house;  gables  on  the  east  and  west  end  (the  reverse 
of  the  present  edifice)  two  doors  in  front.  o])euing  on  two 
aisles,  whicli  led  to  another  aisle,  which  extended  in  front 
of  the  pulpit,  the  entire  length  of  the  house;  pu]i)it  (»f  the 
ancient  tub  species,  with  the  precentor's  box  in  front  of  it. 
'1  he  pulpit  stood  against  the  north  Avail  o])posit<'  the 
doors,  and  in  the  center  of  the  long  side  of  the  parallelo- 
gi'am;  galleries  on  three  sides  of  the  auditorium,  reached 
by  stairs  which  arose  from  each  door." 

Outstanding  among  the  pastors  of  the  church  was 
Rev.  Wm.  B.  Sloan,  who  served  it.  his  only  charge,  for 
thirty-six  years.     Greenwich   united   at   this   time  with   the 


THE  PK^:sln•T^:l{^  ok  xkwiux  :i 

Mansfield  or  Washington  elunch  in  callini^  liim.  and  the 
records  of  Xew  Brunswick  Presbytery  tell  ns  that  he  was 
ordained    and    installed    over    (4reenwich    and    Mansfield    in 

1798. 

May  19,  1800,  Rev.  Mr.  Sloan'  preached  a  sermon,  after 
which  a  congregational  meeting  was  held  and  trustees  were 
elected.  At  this  time  a  subscription  was  opened  to  secure 
needed  funds  to  ])ay  an  indebtedness  already  incurred  in 
the  erection  of  the  new  church  building;  and  to  secure 
what  might  be  needed  to  finish  it.  The  subscription  ])aper 
having  been  signed  by  the  contributors  present,  John 
Sherrerd  was  appointed  to  make  a  copy  of  the  same  for 
each  trustee  that  they  might  secure  subscriptions  from 
those  of  the  congregation  not  present.  This  John  Sherrerd 
was  the  grandfather  of  the  late  John  M.  Sherrerd.  of 
Uelvidere. 

Rev.  Mr.  Sloan  continued  to  serve  the  united  churches 
until  ISlo.  when  he  was  released  from  the  Mansfield  or 
Washington  part  of  his  charge  and  devoted  his  wh<de  time 
to   Greenwich. 

As  was  common.  Greenwich  seems  not  to  have  kept  any 
regular  records  until  the  beginning  of  the  nineteenth  cen- 
tury. The  first  of  these  extant  is  dated  Nov.  14,  1803. 
The  opening  page  is  inscribed:  "Greenwich  Presbyterian 
Church  Consistory,  opened  Xovember  14,  1803;  Rev.  Wm. 
B.  Sloan.  ]\loderator.  Peter  Davis  and  Thonuis  Stewart, 
ehleis  oidained.  Thomas  Kennedy.  William  Kennedy,  and 
Willianj  Smith,  elders  elect."  The  word  "Consistory"  in- 
stead of  Session  suggests  the  influence  of  the  Dutch 
Church.  The  elders  elected  were  ordained  the  same  day 
1  he  record  was  made,  and  from  tliis  time  forward  the 
sessional  records  were  kept  with  commendable  regularity 
ami  correctness. 

In  1812  the  number  of  ctunmunicants  was  92.  Prom 
tliat  year  until  1S34  when  Mr.  Sloan  closed  his  labors  197 
had  been  received  on  profession  of  faith  and  fourteen  by 
certifk'ate.  The  enrollment  when  his  labors  closed  was 
192.  Dr.  Junkin  says:  "Under  Mr.  Sloan's  ministry  there 
were  several  seasons  of  revival,  the  most  noteworthy  in 
1S30-31.  In  that  year  07  were  added  to  the  communion 
on  examination;  32  at  one  time.  Subseciuently  the  church 
was  several  times  specially  favored  '"  "  '"  the  lariicst 
ingathering    at    anv    one    communion     being    78.    and    the 


72  THE  PKESBYTE15Y  OF  XE\VT')X 

largest  in  any  one  year,   1836,  was,  I  think,  103."     Green- 
wich church  was  incorporated  Dec.  7,  1839. 

The  present  eldership  is  as  follows:  Thomas  F.  Ken- 
nedy, Isaac  Frey,  Grant  Shoemaker,  E.  F.  Cline.  Harry  W. 
Sinclair. 

The  list  of  supplies  and  pastors  is  as  follows:  Rev. 
Francis  Peppard,  Rev.  James  Campbell,  Rev.  John  Cross, 
Rev.  .Daniel  Lawrence,  Rev.  John  Clark,  Rev.  Robert  Cross, 
Rev.  John  Boyd,  Rev.  -lames  McRea,  liev.  John  Rose- 
brouoh,  supplies  from  1740  to  17oo.  Pastors,  Rev.  John 
Rosebrough,  1755-1769;  Rev.  Joseph  Treat.  1775-1797;  Rew 
\Vm.  B.  Sloan,  1798-1834;  Rev.  David  X.  Junkin.  1835-1851; 
Rev.  Aaron  H.  Hand,  1851-1870;  Rev.  Thos.  S.  Long,  1871- 
188G;  Rev.  Eliphalet  W.  Brown.  1887-1892:  Rev.  Edwin  J. 
Reinke,  1893-1901;  Rev.  Hugh  Walker.  1902-  . 

HACKETTSTOWN. 

This  church,  originally  known  as  "the  Presbyterian 
congregation  at  Musconetcong,  near  Thomas  Helmes' 
mills,"  appears  after  the  township  of  Hardwick  was 
erected  as  Lower  Hardwick.  After  meeting  for  some  years 
in  a  rude  log  church  upon  the  site  of  the  present  Sabbath 
School  room,  they  felt  able  to  purchase  the  groimd  upon 
which  the  church  stood.  The  deed  for  the'  purchase  bears 
the  date  March  8,  1764.  The  grantor  was  Obadiah  Ayers. 
The  persons  to  whom  the  property  was  deeded  were  Ezekiel 
Ayers,  Robert  Beaden,  Isaac  Bell,  Daniel  Landon,  Samuel 
Landon,  John  Sikens.  Thomas  Sikens  and  John  Todd.  The 
trustees  were  Sanuiel  Landon.  Wm.  Stewart.  Thomas  Flem- 
ing. Ezekiel  Ayers.  .lames  Little.  Wm.  Helmes.  and  Archi- 
bald Stewart.  Upon  this  land  a  frame  building  was  later 
placed  50  by  30  feet.  This  was  painted  yellow,  and  as  was 
customary  in  those  days  had  no  lieating  arrangements. 
After  a  time  a  pit  was  bricked  up  in  the  middle  of  the  au- 
dience room  and  a  charcoal  fire  was  maintained. 

After  a  congregational  meeting  September  2.  1785,  it 
was  decided  to  purchase  a  glebe  or  parsonage  farm,  and  a 
subscription  having  been  opened  to  secure  the  necessary 
funds,  there  was  later  purchased  from  Charles  Sartoris 
a  tract  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  for  three  hundred 
and  twenty-five  pounds,  proclamation  money,  or  a  sum 
equal   to  ai)out  $866. 


THE  lM{|-:S]nTKllV  OF  N]:\\  FOX  78 

Action  was  taken  to  form  a  body  corporate  under  the 
act  of  Legislature  approved  Marcli  1(),  1780,  and  on  August 
28  of  the  same  year  the  church  lot  was  enlarged  by  the 
purchase  of  a  half  acre  adjoining.  The  trustees  on  8ej)t. 
27  took  the  necessary  steps  to  become  a  corporate  body, 
under  the  name  of  The  First  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Independence. 

In  1805  the  people  on  Schooley's  Mountain  were  en- 
gaged in  building  a  chapel,  and  to  help  them  the  Hacketts- 
town  people  postponed  scjme  needed  repairs  around  the 
graveyard. 

When  Joseph  Campbell  was  called  April  1.  1809,  we  lind 
that  the  call  was  for  "two-thirds  of  the  time  of  him,  the 
said  Joseph  Campbell  (the  congregation  of  Pleasant  Grove 
giving  a  call  for  the  remaining  one-third  of  his  time),  for 
whidi  service  we  will  pay  amuially  the  sum  of  three  hun- 
dred and  thirty  dollars  and  thirty-three  cents,  in  tjuai- 
ter  yearly  payments." 

At  the  same  time  it  was  determined  "to  take  from  Ziba 
Osmun  for  the  use  of  the  said  Joseph  Campbell,  his  house, 
formerly  the  parsonage  lot,  garden,  etc.,  api)ertaining. 
with  the  privilege  of  getting  firewood  from  said  Osmun's 
land;  for  which  we  engage  to  pay  him  twenty  dollars  for 
one  year,  commencing  the  first  day  of  May  next." 

Dr.  Campbell's  pastorate  proved  to  be  the  longest  in  the 
history  of  the  church,  for  he  served  it  for  twenty-nine 
years.  In  1810  he  moved  into  town  and  lived  in  a  hcuse 
where  now  stands  the  Clarendon  Hotel.  About  1812  he 
moved  into  the  parsonage  nearly  opposite  to  the  churcli. 
where  he  remained  to  the  end  of  his  pastorate.  When  in 
1838  he  was  called  to  Milford  and  Kingwood.  he  accepted 
the  call  against  the  wishes  and  earnest  solicitation  of  his 
friends  at  Hackettstown.  His  career  was  soon  ended,  for 
he  died  of  typhoid  fever  in  the  fall  of  1840  and  his  body 
was  taken  back  and  buried  by  the  side  of  his  first  wife  at 
Hackettstown. 

In  1814  the  church  building  was  found  to  be  too  small 
to  accommodate  the  congregation,  so  steps  were  taken  to 
erect  a  new  building  of  wood,  which  was  completed  in  1810. 
To  this  building  in  1874  was  added  a  two-story  lecture 
room,  and  the  whole  stiucture  is  now  used  for  Sunday 
School,  prayer-meeting.  Young  Peoph^'s  meetings  and  social 
gatherings. 


74  TiiK  l'l^l:s^,^'^^:l{^■  of  xKW'iox 

In  1863  a  new  eliiirch  building  was  erected  on  the  oppo- 
site side  of  the  street  at  a  cost  of  about  $18,000.  In  1907 
this  building  was  remodeled,  repaired,  and  refurnished  at  a 
cost  of  about  $20,000. 

The  present  eldership  is  as  follows:  W.  U.  Sutphen. 
A.  B.  Buell,  J.  U.  Flock,  Theodore  Crane,  Jr..  C.  X.  Wade. 
Wm.  Lanternuin. 

Th'^  list  of  pastors  is  as  follows:  Rev.  Francis  Peppard, 
1773-1783;  Rev.  Peter  Wilson,  1786-171)6;  Rev.  Joseph 
Campbell,  D.  D.,  1809-1838;  Rev.  E.  S.  Schenck,  1839-1843, 
Rev.  J.  H.  Townley,  1843-1851;  Rev.  H.  X.  Wilson.  D.  D., 
1851-1858;  Rev.  F.  R.  Harbaugh,  1858-1861;  Rev.  G.  C. 
Bush,  1862-1866;  Rev.  Thomas  AIcAulev.  1867-1878;  Rev. 
Alexander  Proudfit,  1878-1884;  Rev.  John  Lourv,  1884- 
1895;  Rev.  J.  C.  Chapman.  1895-1905;  Rev.  J.  W.  Alarrvn. 
Ph.  D..  1906-  . 


HAMBURG. 

This  church  was  organized  October  8,  1901,  in  response 
to  a  petition  of  fifteen  members  of  the  Xorth  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Hardyston,  resident  at  Hamburg,  for  a  division 
of  the  congregation  of  the  Xorth  Church  and  a  separate 
organization. 

At  a  subsequent  meeting,  held  in  the  Bethany  Chapel 
of  Hamburg,  October  19,  82  persons  presented  certificates  of 
dismission  from  the  Xorth  Church  and  were  leceived  into 
the  membership  of  the  new  church.  At  this  meeting  the 
"Rotary  System"  of  eldership  was  adopted,  and  the  follow- 
ing were  elected  and  installed  as  elders  of  the  church: 
\Vm.  M.  Thompson,  Alexander  Ross,  Wm.  H.  Spangenberg. 
and  Louis  G.  Rude.  The  following  were  elected  trustees: 
Thomas  P.  Renouf,  Jos.  G.  Coleman.  M.  1).,  Jonas  S.  Wood. 
Dennis  Havens,  and  J.  K.  Steckle. 

The  antecedent  history  of  the  church  dated  back  to  1795 
when  the  Rev.  Holloway  W.  Hunt,  pastor  of  the  churches 
at  Xewton  and  Hardyston,  frequently  held  evening  services 
in  a  schoolhouse  located  near  the  site  of  the  present  church. 
An  unsuccessful  attempt  to  erect  a  house  of  worship,  to 
be  called  "The  Hamburg  Church,"  and  to  be  "free  to  all 
denominations,"  was  made  in  1808. 


Till-:  pitKsnviKK\  OK  XKwrox  :.•) 

Ill  1813  the  Presbyterians  of  Haniburo  built  a  church, 
almost  square  in  plan,  with  a  gallery  on  three  sides,  four 
s<[uare  pews  on  each  side  and  long  seats  through  the  middle 
of  the  house.  Stated  services  were  held  in  this  house  by 
Presbyterian   ministers  until   1S31. 

In  March,  1819,  the  llev.  Edward  Allen,  who  had  pre- 
viously been  laboring  in  these  parts,  was  directed  by  the 
Presbytery  at  Newark  "to  preach  at  Hamburg  and  the 
Xortli  Church."  In  May  of  that  year  The  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Hamburg  was  constituted,  the  day  previous  to 
the  organization  of  the  North  Church  of  Hardyston,  and  by 
the  same  Committee  of  Presbytery.  The  records  of  this 
church  are  lost.  It  would  seem,  however,  that  Mr.  Allen 
assumed  charge  of  it,  as  directed  by  Presbytery,  and  hehl 
services  here  on  Sabbath  morning,  until  his  removal  to 
Deckertown   in    1820. 

In  March,  1830.  the  church  edifice  of  the  North  Church 
was  destroyed  by  fire.  A  new  church  was  built,  and  when 
completed,  "the  people  consented  to  make  it  the  central 
l)oint  for  worship  every  Sabbath  morning.  Afternoon  and 
evening  services  were  held  at  Hamburg  and  in  the  different 
neighborhoods.  One  organized  Presbyterian  church  and  one 
board  of  elders  only  existed  in  the  territory,  and  all 
church  members  were  members  of  the  North  Church  of 
Hardyston." 

It  would  seem,  therefore,  that  at  this  date,  1830.  The 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Hamburg,  constituted  in  1819,  had 
ceased  to  exist  as  a  separate  organization.  Doubtless, 
however,  it  still  had  stated  services  as  a  mission  staticm 
of  the  North  Church. 

During  the  lengthy  and  most  successful  pastorate — 
though  he  was  never  formally  installed — of  Rev.  Alanson 
A.  Haines,  the  work  at  Hamburg  steadily  jtrogressed 
toward  a  new  churcli  edifice  and  a  new  church  organiza- 
tion. A  beautiful  house  of  worship  was  erected  in  1869, 
which,  however,  was  not  completely  finished  and  dedicated 
until  May  IS.  ISSl.  its  total  cost  being  nearly  $S.0(H). 

A  Sunday  School  was  organized  and  regular  services 
instituted  in'  the  lU'W  church  on  the  first  Sabbatli  in  De- 
cember. isi()9. 


70  THE  PRESBYTKKV  OF  XKW  roX 

The  list  of  pastors  is  as  follows:  Rev.  Edward  Allen. 
1819-1820;  Rev.  Burr  Baldwin,  S.  S.,  1820-1824;  Rev.  Na- 
thaniel Conkling,  S.  S.,  1824-1829;  Rev.  Elias  Fairchild, 
D.D.,  Pastor,  1829-1838;  Rev.  Joel  Campbell,  1838-1856; 
Rev.  David  C.  Meeker,  1856-1859;  Rev.  G.  B.  Bell,  1859- 
1864;  Rev.  Alanson  A.  Haines,  1865-1890;  Rev.  George  C. 
Barnes,  1890-1898;  Rev.  Wni.  S.  Harper,  1899-1901;  Rev. 
Edward  Snyder,  1902-1905.  Since  the  close  of  Mr.  Snyder's 
pastorate  at  North  Church  the  pastors  of  the  Hamburg- 
church  have  also  been  Stated  Supplies  of  the  Noith 
Church. 

Pastors  of  the  new  Hamburg  church  since  its  re-organi- 
zation: Rev.  J.  K.  Baillie,  D.D.,  1901-1910;  Rev.  Francis 
M.  Line,  1910-1912;  Rev.  R.  W.  Hughes.  1913-1916;  Rev. 
J.  W.  Bischoff,  1917-  . 

HARMONY. 

This  church,  originally  a  mission  of  Greenwich,  in  1805 
formed  itself  into  a  society  which  Mr.  Sloan,  the  pastor  at 
Greenwich,  called  his  congregation.  Some  of  the  people 
were  members  of  his  church,  going  all  that  distance  on 
horseback  and  in  farm  wagons.  In  1806  the  Presbytery, 
on  application,  sent  supplies  to  Harmony  Society.  The 
same  year  a  movement  was  made  for  the  erection  of  a 
meeting  house.  Henry  Winter,  Sr.,  and  Andrew  Miller 
were  appointed  a  committee  to  circulate  subscri])ti(>n 
papers  and  seupervise  the  building.  They  met  with  such 
encouragement  that  the  building,  a  frame  structure  cost- 
ing $1,466,  was  ready  for  worship  the  next  year  and  was 
dedicated  in  November,  1807.  The  high  pulpit,  with  a 
sounding  board,  reached  by  winding  stairs  and  with  a  door 
to  shut  in  the  preacher,  was  at  the  north  end  of  the  church. 
The  precentor's  seat  was  in  front  of  the  pulpit.  The  nu'n 
sat  on  one  side  of  the  church,  the  women  on  the  other. 
There  were  galleries,  and  stoves  with  pij)es  running  along 
under  the  galleries.  These  stoves  nuist  liave  been  put  in 
after  the  building  was  erected  for  originally  it  was  custo- 
mary for  the  older  ladies  to  carry  foot -stoves. 

The  first  trustees  were:  Godfrey  Kline,  Henry  Winter. 
Andrew  Miller,  Benjamin  Youmans,  and  Moses  Allen.  Their 
first    elders    were:       Henry    Winter,    Peter    Yomig.    David 


THE  PRESBYTER V  Ol^  XEWTOX  77 

Osmiin,  and  John  Connelly.  While  it  is  not  known  exaetly 
when  the  church  was  organized,  we  find  that  now  instead 
of  being  known  as  "Harmony  Society"  it  was  called 
"Harmony  Congregation." 

In  1840  the  old  church  burned  down  from  an  over-heated 
stove  and  a  new  one  was  built  of  the  style  then  in  vogue. 
There  was  no  vestibule,  but  the  pulpit  was  considered  a 
gem  for  those  days.  It  was  of  moderate  height,  with  wiiul- 
ing  stairs,  having  railings  and  placed  on  the  south  side 
of  the  church  between  the  front  doors.  The  gallery,  ex- 
tending around  three  sides  of  the  church,  was  reached  by 
stairs  at  the  front.  There  were  four  rows  of  pews  and 
two  aisles.  It  was  heated  by  stoves  in  the  front  and  back 
of  the  church,  and  lighted  by  oil  lamps  with  large  globes, 
suspended  from  brackets  in  the  gallery  fronts.  There  were 
also  very  tall  pulpit  lamps.  The  cost  of  the  church,  includ- 
ing furnishing,  was  over  $4,000.  In  1886  this  was  disman- 
tled and  rel)uilt  at  a  cost  of  $8,170.  During  the  pastorate 
of  Rev.  ^Ir.  Snyder  a  new  parsonage  was  built. 

The  present  eldership  is  as  follows:  John  L.  (line. 
Thomas  F.  Dewitt,  Peter  Kline,  Amzi  Miller,  and  George 
Dewitt. 

The  list  of  pastors  is  as  follows:  Rev.  Garner  A.  Hnnt. 
1807-1818;  Rev.  Lemuel  Firdham  Leake.  1818-1828;  Rev. 
Robert  Love.  1832-1838;  Rev.  John  J.  Carrell.  1830-1848: 
Rev.  John  Skinner,  D.D..  1849-1853;  Rev.  Andrew  Tullv. 
1853-1861;  Rev.  David  Kerr  Freenmn,  1862-1860;  ]\v\. 
Henry  Egidius  Spavd,  1870-1884;  Rev.  Roderick  Provost 
Cobb!  1885-1888;  Rev.  Isaac  Davison  Decker.  1888-1893; 
Rev.  Joseph  D.  Hillman.  1894-1901;  Rev.  Leopold  Reid 
Burrows,  1902-1904;  Rev.  Edward  Snyder.  1905-1912;  Rev. 
A.  Dodge,  1912-1913;   Rev.  .James  Douoherty,  1913-  . 

KNOWLTON. 

This  churt'h,  as  was  customary  in  the  early  days,  took 
its  name  from  the  name  of  the  townshij)  of  Kiujwlton. 
which  was  set  off  from  Oxford  in  1764.  The  people  who 
were  originally  associated  together  as  a  religious  society 
were  a  mixture  of  Gernums  and  English,  wifh  ])erha})s  a 
few  of  other  nationalities.  An  old  recoid  in  the  (lerman 
language  shows  that  there  were  religious  activities  at  this 
point  as  early  as  1766,  and  during  the  next  teti  years  about 


7S  THE  PHESJiVTEKV  OF  XEW'IOX 

125  children  were  baptized.  The  original  name  of  the  re- 
ligious society  was:  "First  English  and  (xernian  Congre- 
gation in  Knowlton." 

A  i»ecord  made  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick, 
April  25,  1775,  runs  as  follows:  "A  luimber  of  people 
in  Knowlton,  Sussex  County,  being  collected  into  a  Chris- 
tian Society,  desired  to  be  under  the  care  of  this  Presby- 
tery and  supplicate  for  supplies.*' 

While  there  was  doubtless  more  or  less  preaching  in 
Knowlton  prior  to  this  by  Dutch  ministers,  this  seems  to 
be  the  first  Presbyterian  record  of  the  congregation.  ^Ir. 
Peppard,  Mr.  Rosebrough.  and  Mr.  Hanna  were  the  tirst 
recorded  Presbyterian  ministers  to  preach  there. 

In  August,  1778,  Mr.  Stockton,  the  first  pastor,  was 
installed,  dividing  his  time  between  Knowlton.  Oxford  and 
Manslield  Woodhonse.  In  1780.  however.  "Mr.  Stockton 
represented  to  Presbytery  the  divided,  broken  state  of  the 
Knowlton  congregation,  the  diflFiculties  continually  arising 
in  laboring  among  them,  and  the  small  encouragement 
arising  from  that  quarter,  desires  to  be  liberated  from  that 
part  of  his  charge."  Thereafter  ensues  a  period  of 
supplies. 

0]i  Se])tember  22.  1802.  Pi-esl)ytery  ap])()inted  Kev.  Eben- 
ezer  Grant  to  supply  the  congregation  at  his  discretion.  In 
a  report  to  Presbytery  in  April.  1803.  Mr.  (xraiit  said 
among  other  things:  "that  although  he  had  not  been  able 
io  spend  as  much  time  among  them  as  he  could  liave 
wished,  and  although  the  very  inclement  season  had  ren- 
dered it  impracticable  for  him  to  gather  full  and  accurate 
ideas  of  the  state  and  wishes  of  the  people,  so  as  satisfac- 
torily to  answ'er  every  point  of  enquiry  suggested  by  the 
Presbytery,  yet  from  previous  acquaintance  and  the  in- 
telligence he  could  collect  durino  the  week  he  continneil 
among  them,  he  is  enabled  to  state,  that  there  is.  at  this 
time  no  regularlv  organized  congregation  in  the  township 
of  Xolton." 

From  this  report  we  learn  that  the  High  Dutch  Calvin - 
ists,  the  Episcopalians,  and  the  Presbyterians  united  in  the 
erection  of  the  new  Knowlton  church,  which  it  was  expect- 
ed would  be  finished  before  the  close  of  1803.  As  near  as 
can  be  ascertained  the  original  log  church  stood  Jieai-  the 
present  site.     The  church  built  in  1802-3  stood  in  the  cenir 


Tin-:  i>jn-:si;v'i-KRv  of  xkwtox  to 

tt*rv  across  the  road  from  w  liere  the  present  building  stands. 
It  seems  apparent  tliat  tlic  church  was  not  re-organized  un- 
til after  April,  1803. 

The  name  of  the  church  as  reorganized  was:  "The 
PTrst  English  and  German  Congiegation  hi  Knowlton."  At 
the  meeting  of  Presbytery  April  2(».  1803.  Mr.  John  I.iiin 
was  present  and  is  designated  as  an  elder  from  Knowlton. 
It  is  the  first  time  that  the  records  mention  an  elder  as 
representing  the  church.  In  the  records  two  names  appear 
as  designating  the  congregation.  "The  New"  meant  the 
new  church  at  the  present  location,  and  "The  Old"  meant 
St.  James  Episcopal  on  the  Delaware. 

It  was  in  the  new  church  that  the  second  pastor,  Mr. 
Barclay,  was  installed,  thus  becoming  the  first  pastor  of 
the  reorganized  church.  For  a  time  things  moved  along 
smoothly  until  difl'iculties  arose  which  required  the  inter- 
vention of  Presbytery  and  finally  in  1812  the  pastoral 
relation  was  dissolved. 

The  old  Knowlton  church  during  its  long  history  has 
had  many  pastors  and  has  lived  to  see  its  children  outstrip 
their  mother,  as  population  lias  moved  from  the  country 
into  the  towns.  Thus  after  the  organization  of  the  Blairs- 
town  church  out  of  Knowlton  in  1840.  the  same  pastors 
served  both  until  the  year  1854.  More  recently  Delaware 
and  Knowlton   have  constituted  one  pastoral  charge. 

The  complete  list  of  pastors  so  far  as  obtainable  is  as 
follows:  Pxev.  Philip  Stockton..  1778-1780;  Pvev.  David 
Barclay,  180r)-1812;  Rev.  Jeliiel  Talmadge,  1822-1830;  Pvev. 
Thaniel  B.  Condit,  1841;  Rev.  David  Longmore.  1842;  Rev. 
John  C.  Lowrv.  1843-184r>:  Rev.  John  *  A.  Reilev.  184.1- 
1854;  Rev.  R.  H.  Reeves,  1854;  Rev.  P.  H.  Brooks.  1868; 
Rev.  D.  F.  Lockerbv..  1872;  Rev.  Andrew  Tullv,  1873-1875; 
Rev.  Daniel  Derwelle,  1875-1885;  Rev.  R.  HamiU  Davis. 
lS8r,-l880:  Rev.  (has.  K.  Van  Allen.  1800-1805:  Rev.  Albert 
L.  Kelly.  1805-1808;  Rev.  J.  E.  Grant,  1800-1001;  Rev. 
James  W.  Shearer.  1002-1004;  Rev.  J.  B.  Porter.  1004-1005; 
Rev.    Edward    A.    McLaurv.    1005-1008;    Rev.    11.    W.    Ewig. 


LAFAYETTE. 

This  church  was  oiganized  I  y  the   Presbytery  of  Rocka- 
wa\-.  under  which   jurisdiction   this  section   then  existed,  in 


80  THE  PRESBYTEKY  OF  XEWTOX 

185G.  In  1857  the  present  church  buiklin<>.  a  frame  struc- 
ture seating  150,  was  erected  and  dedicated.  There  were  14 
charter  members  received  from  the  ehurcli  of  Hardystone. 
Xone  of  these  are  now  livinu  although  descendants  of  sev- 
eral of  them  are  enrolled  among  the  members  of  the  pres- 
ent congregation,    John  D.  Ackerson  was  the  first  elder. 

Recently  the  Sunday  School  and  Christian  Endeavor 
Society  have  been  reorganized  and  about  a  score  of  new 
members  added.  The  church  lias  now  about  72  members, 
of  whom  9  are  non-resident. 

In  1905,  under  the  pastorate  of  the  Rev.  A.  B.  Jamison, 
the  church  was  repaired  and  decoiated  and  stained  glass 
windows  were  put  in  at  a  cost  of  a])out  $1,000.  The  origi- 
nal cost  of  the  building  was  about  $4,000.  In  1889  the 
present  manse  was  built  at  a  cost  of  $2,000.  There  is  no 
indebtedness  on  church  or  manse. 

In  1907  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  the  chuich  was  cele- 
brated by  appropriate  services,  the  anniversary  sermon  be- 
ing preached  by  the  Rev.  James  Xorthrup,  who  at  one  time 
attended  the  Lafayette  Church. 

The  present  elders  are:  (Jeorge  O.  Wilson,  John  Barber, 
L.  M.  Hunt.  Frank  Emmojis.  Richard  D.  Snook,  and  C  C. 
Backster. 

The  list  of  pastors  is  as  follows:  Rev.  Joel  Campbell,  15 
years;  Rev.  Jethro  B.  Woodward.  1872-1882;  Rev.  Robert 
S.  Feagles.  1  year;  Rev.  Baker  Smith.  3  years;  Rev.  F.  R. 
S.  Hunsicker,  7  years;  Rev.  Chas.  E.  ^'an  Allen.  1  year; 
Rev.  Thomas  W.  Bowen.  5  years:  Rev.  Wm.  C  Westervelt. 
2  vears. 


MANSFIELD  SECOND. 

The  Second  ^lan afield  chuich  was  organized  in  Mans- 
field ToAvnship,  near  Rockport  village,  ^lay  1.  1855.  by  au- 
thority of  the  Presbytery  of  Newton,  with  15  charter  mem- 
bers, a  few  of  whom  were  fr(nn  Hackettstown.  and  others 
from  Danville. 

The  first  elders  were:  Aaron  Bryan.  David  C.  Davis  and 
Tunis  H.  Tunison.  The  first  trustees  were:  Robert  P. 
Ramsey,  Chas.  Stewart,  Henry  C.  Davis.  Mansfield  White, 
Samuel  Vanatta  and  Jas.  McCrev. 


THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  XEWTOX  81 

The  church  occupies  a  frame  ])uil(lino,  erected  at  a  cost 
of  $2,000.  It  has  never  suftered  a  change  of  location,  nor 
was  its  property  ever  shared  with  any  other  denomination. 
It  enjoyed  a  revival  during  tlie  pastorate  of  Dr.  Campbell. 

its  present  elders  are:  Aaron  Bryan.  David  C.  Davis, 
Tunis  Tuni^on.  Henry  Husselton.  Jas.  Beatty,  Wilson 
Bloomtield.  E.  Watters.  and  S.  Vannatta. 

The  list  of  pastors  is  as  folloAvs:  Rev.  Hollowav  ^I. 
Hunt.  185();  Rev.  Gilbert  I^ne.  1801-1866;  Rev.  Thomas  M. 
(irav,  June  1866-Oct.  18<)6;  Rev.  Joseph  H.  Doremus.  1807: 
Rev'.  John  P.  Clarke.  1881;  Rev.  Philip  Reese,  1891-1804: 
Rev.  (ieo.  H.  S.  Campbell,  1805-1800;  Rev.  J.  W.  Bell.  1000- 
1001:  Rev.  L.  B.  Plumer.  1003-1007;  Rev.  Richardson  Grav. 
1007-1014;  Rev.  J.  D.  Hillman,  1014—. 

As  will  be  seen,  these  pastors,  beginning  with  ^Ir.  Reese 
served  both  ^lansfield  Second  and  Beattystown,  and  the 
dates  of  their  pastorates  will  be  found  in  the  sketch  of  the 
latter  church. 

MARKSBORO. 

This  church  was  organized  November  14,  1814.  in  the 
uj)per  room  of  an  old  tavern  near  where  the  present  hotel 
now  stands.  Its  previous  history  is  as  follows:  Shortly 
after  the  year  1800.  a  Sabbath  School  was  organized  where 
Markslioro  is  now  located.  Its  superintendent  was  Alfred 
W.  Cooke  and  it  had  a  membership  of  about  80  scholars. 
This  seems  to  have  been  the  nucleus  of  the  religious  or- 
gainzation  which  afterward  actjuired  the  name  of  the 
^larksboro  Presbyterian  Church. 

In  1811  Mr.  John  Boyd  was  pastor  at  Hard  wick  or  Yel- 
low Frame  and  this  Sabbath  School  was  Avithin  the  bounds 
of  his  congregation.  At  this  time  a  <lancing  .school  was 
started  at  Johnsonburg  where  the  Hardwick  Church  was 
located  and  Mr.  Boyd  preached  against  it.  As  a  result 
trouble  arose  and  the  minister  was  unseated.  Mr.  Boyd 
then  held  services  at  Marksboro  and  organized  there  a 
churth  which  seems  originally  to  have  borne  the  name  of 
The  Second  Presbyterian  Chiu'ch  of  Hardwick. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick  Oc- 
tober .1.  1813.  recognition  for  tJiis  organization  was  sought. 
This  was  strenuously  opposed  by  the  mother  church  of 
Hardwick,  so  that  it  was  not  imtil'  1814.  as  just  >tatcd  that 
the  organization  was  ett'ected. 


82  Tf{K  IMtKSm'TKUY  OF  NKWTOX 

For  a  time  tlie  people  met  for  worship  in  private  houses, 
in  the  upper  room  of  the  hotel,  and  in  a  neighborinjT  harn 
on  the  farm  now  owned  by  Austin  R.  Mott.  But  by  De- 
cember. 1815.  the  walls  of  a  brick  chiu-ch  l)uildino-  were  up 
and  the  roof  was  on.  There  were  no  funds,  however,  with 
which  to  put  on  the  plaster  and  provide  pews.  Slab  seats 
were  improvised,  a  work  bench  was  used  for  a  pulpit,  and  a 
Franklin  stove  provided  the  heat.  The  congregation  used 
it  thu8  for  about  six  years  until  the  Iniilding  was  finished. 
They  had  service  only  once  a  fortnight,  then  two  sermons 
with  an  intermission  of  half  an  hour,  for  a  little  lunch 
brought  with  them  from  their  homes.  They  had  no  Sun- 
day School  in  those  davs.  but  the  pastor  divided  the  con- 
gregation into  districts,  meeting  at  some  home  in  each  in 
turn  and  asking  questions  from  the  Bible. 

Rev.  John  Boyd,  who  was  Stated  Supply  from  the  fall 
of  1814  until  the  spring-  of  1820.  was  senior  minister  when 
the  Presbytery  of  Xewton  was  formed  in  1817.  preached 
the  opening  sermon,  and  was  elected  the  first  Moderator. 

In  1823  the  church  formed  a  union  with  Stillwater  and 
Yellow  Frame,  each  of  these  churches  finding  it  impossible 
to  sustain  the  gospel  alone.  This  arrangement  lasted  up 
to  the  end  of  Mr,  ^NlcGee's  pastorate.  Mr.  McClee  gave 
himself  wholly  to  the  work,  having  half  a  dozen  preaching 
places  and  never  missing  an  appointment.  The  last  Sab- 
bath he  ministered  he  was  not  well  and  returned  home 
nevei-  to  come  foith  alive,  dying  in  about  ten  days  on  May 
25,  18G7,  He  was  laid  to  rest  in  the  ilardwick.  noAv  Yellow 
Frame,  cemetery. 

The  union  between  the  churches  being  severed  at  his 
death,  the  next  pastor.  Rev.  Jos.  H.  Tliyne.  occupied  the 
parsonage  purchased  for  him.  as  the  first  pastor  Avhich  the 
chinch  had  had  to  itself. 

'Ilie  church  for  many  years  worshipped  in  the  brick 
building  previously  mentioned,  but  during  the  pastorate  of 
Mr.  McCee  it  was  filled  to  oveiHowing  and  was  therefore 
torn  down  and  replaced  by  a  frame  building  of  much  larger 
dimensions  built  on  the  same  lot.  This  building  was  dedi- 
cated, soon  after  completion,  in  1850.  Some  alterations 
were  made  and  the  buihling  was  renovated  in  1893-94.  In 
1914-15,  it  was  again  ledecorated  and  painted  inside  and 
out.  with  the  addition  of  a  new  metal  ceiling,  stained  glass 
windows,  and  gas  lights,  making  it  a  very  pleasing  little 
conntiv  chnrcli.  all  fiee  fiom  debt. 


Till-:  IMJKsr.V'IKlJV  OF  XKW'IOX  8:^ 


The  present  elders  are:  E.  P.  Cooke,  and  W.  A.  Kerr. 

Tlie  list  of  pastors  is  as  follows:  Rev.  John  Boyd.  S.  S. 
1814-1820;  Rev.  Benjamin  I.  Lowe.  1S24-183();  Rev.^Riehard 
(irav.  S.  S.  6  months;  Rev.  Thaniel  C'ondit.  S.  S.  (i  months: 
Rev*.  Jonathan  H.  Sherwood.  P.  18.31)1841:  Rev.  Wm.  C.  :Mc- 
(ivi\  1841-1807;  Rev.  Jos.  H.  Thvne.  18()7-1871;  Rev.  C.  H. 
Rodnev.  1872-1878;  Rev.  R.  J.  Bnrtt.  1879-189.-);  Rev.  E.  A. 
Mcl.anrv.  1896-1900 ;  Rev.  J.  .1.  Wolf.  190r)-1908:  Rev.  A.  F. 
IjQtt.  1909-1913:  Rev.  P.  F.  Meade.  1914—. 


MUSCONETCONG  VALLEY. 

This  church  is  one  of  the  historic  churches  in  its  section 
of  the  country.  The  first  steps  towards  its  organization 
were  taken  on  Dec.  24.  1836,  at  the  New  Hampton  school 
house.  Application  'having  been  made  in  April,  1837,  the 
church  was  formally  organized  in  June  of  that  year  by  a 
committee  of  Presbytery  consistino-  of  Rev.  Wm.  B.  Sloan, 
Rev.  Jacob  R.  Castner.  and  Rev.  David  X.  Junkin.  There 
were  26  charter  members  and  Rev.  John  McXair  was  first 
pastor  and  Moderator.  It  was  the  outgrowth  of  the  New 
Hampton  Sab1;ath  School  organized  bv  Mrs.  Bousenburv  of 
Phila. 

The  church  occupies  a  stone  building  erected  in  1837  on 
ground  given  by  Jacob  Skinner.  During  the  building  of  the 
church,  services  were  held  in  a  tent  on  the  grounds. 

The  longest  pastorates  were  those  of  Rev.  Jas.  Lewers, 
nineteen  years,  and  Rev.  J.  B.  Kugler,  eighteen  years,  who 
left  a  deep  impress  upon  the  community.  The  pastorate  of 
Rev.  Mr.  Kelley  was  marked  by  a  period  of  evangelism. 

This  church,  logically  the  child  of  Mansfield  or  Wash- 
ington, became  in  turn  the  mother  of  Asbury  and  (ilcii 
(iardner. 

The  Elders  now  serving  are:  Absalom  A])gar.  Henry 
Maitin  and  John  Mayberry. 

Tho  list  of  pastors  is  as  follows:  Rev.  .John  McXair. 
1837:  Rev.  Jas.  Lewers,  1841-1860:  Rev.  Alfred  Veomans. 
18(50-1860:  Rev.  John  B.  Kugler,  186r)-1883:  Rev.  Mr.  Hun- 
sicker,  1884-1887:  Rev.  Albert  L.  Kellev.  1889-1892;  Rev.  J. 
B.  Tmberger,  1893-1904;  Uev.  Jas.  Proven,  190o-190();  Rev. 
Ward  C.  Peahody.  1907-1^7:  Rev.  A.  J.   Fowlie.  1917—. 

Two  from  this  churcli  haxc  L'one  out  into  the  gospel 
ministrv. 


84  THE  Pl^ESBYTERY  OF  XEWTOX 


NEWTON. 

Tliis  church  was  organized  about  1780.  The  first  church 
huikling-  was  of  stone  erected  in  ITcS/i  upon  the  site  of  the 
present  edifice,  but  facing  what  is  now  Church  St.  It  was 
forty-five  feet  square  and  capable  of  seating  three  hun- 
dred people.  It  Avas  ceiled  with  boards  and  had  a  gallery. 
The  high  pulpit  had  its  sounding  board,  and  thereon  was 
perched  a  gilded  dove  with  an  olive  branch  of  peace  in  its 
mouth,  thus  like  Xoah's  dove  liolding  sway  over  troubled 
waters.  Fourteen  jiews  and  sixteen  seats  on  the  main 
fioor;  and  five  pews  and  sixteen  seats  in  the  gallery,  all 
guileless  of  paint,  made  up  the  seating  accommodations. 

At  the  close  of  Rev.  Ira  Condit's  pastorate  in  1793  the 
church  building  had  been  sold  on  execution.  It  seems  how- 
ever to  have  been  held  for  redemption, at  such  time  as  the 
congregation  could  recover  themselves  from  their  financial 
embarrassment. 

For  a  time  the  church  united  with  the  Hardyston  or 
Sparta  church,  but  at  the  close  of  Rev.  Mr.  Hunfs  pastor- 
ate in  1802  a  union  in  the  support  of  a  pastor  A\as  effected 
between  the  XeAvton  church  and  Haidwick  or  VelloA\' 
Frame. 

The  congregation  was  still  indebted  to  their  former  pas- 
tor, Rev.  Mr.  Condit.  In  1804  this  amounted  to  $1,400  and 
it  greatly  crippled  the  people  in  their  work.  They  did  not 
succeed  in  freeing  themselves  from  this  incubus  till  1818. 

The  next  structure  also  of  stone  was  erected  about  1820. 
It  cost  $6,000  and  was  erected  partly  on  the  site  of  the  old 
one.  It  was  o3  x  70  feet  and  had  a  seating  capacity  of  six 
hundred.  The  original  church  building  had  free  stone  lin- 
tels. On  these  were  the  inscriptions.  '"Keep  thy  feet  when 
thou  goest  to  the  house  of  (Jod,  and  be  moie  ready  to  hear 
than  to  make  the  sacrifice  of  fools."  And.  "Thou  slialt 
keep  my  Sabbaths,  and  revere  my  sanctuary.  I  am  the 
Lord."  These  lintels  were  incorporated  in  the  new  build- 
ing, but  by  an  oversight  they  were  plastered  over  and  so 
remained  till  they  were  discovered  at  the  erection  of  the 
third  building  and  restored  to  their  original  use. 

The  ])resent  commodious  building  was  erected  in  1871, 
dedicated  ^lay  10,  1872,  the  corner  stone  being  laid  by  Mr. 
W.  \V.  Woodward.  President  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  a 
faithful  and  earnest  elder  these  many  years  past.  The 
dedicatory  sermon  was  preached  by  Rev.  .lohn  Hall.  D.  1)., 
l)astor  of  Fifth  Ave.  Church.  Xew  York  City. 


THE  Pl^vESBYTErvY  OF  XEWTOX  85 

The  present  cliapel  was  built  188.>-18S(),  the  church  edi- 
fice costiufr  $.50,000  and  the  chapel  $10,000.  In  180o  the 
(hurch  was  altered  and  renovate<l.  new  pews  being  put  in. 
new  or<>an  installed,  choii-  loft  chanjicd  over  the  entrance  to 
the  rear  of  the  pulpit,  and  wainscoting  finish  laid,  all  at  a 
cost  of  $10,000.  To-day  the  church  is  free  of  all  indebfed- 
jiess.  The  manse  was  built  in  18()0  during-  the  X)astorate  of 
Dr.  Mott. 

While  the  ]>astorate  of  Mr.  Condit  was  interestin*;  in 
that  he  was  its  first  pastor  and  it  was  his  first  charge,  he 
being  ordained  and  installed  at  a  service  at  which  Rev.  Dr. 
W  itlierspoon  presided,  preached  the  sermon,  and  delivered 
the  charge  to  the  pastor,  still  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Jos- 
ei)h  L.  Sliafer  was  tlie  longest,  and  he  perhaps  has  left  the 
deepest  impression  on  the  life  of  the  congregation.  It  was 
during  his  time  that  a  Sabbath  School  was  established  one 
of  the  earliest  in  the  vicinity.  The  church  also  sent  some 
of  its  Christian  women  to  Swartswood  and  gathered  the 
I)eople  together  in  a  movement  of  a  missionary  character  in 
the  form  of  a  Bible  School,  This  resulted  in  establishing  a 
l)reaching  station  there,  the  acquiring  of  real  estate  and 
the  erecting  of  a  house  of  Avorship  held  for  them  by  the 
Trustees  of  the  Xewton  Cliurch  until  it  was  later  sold. 

The  present  elders  of  the  Xewton  church  are:  Wm.  P. 
Courson,  Wm.  W.  A\'oodward,  Philip  R.  Harden.  Philip  S. 
Wilson,  Martin  M.  Fredenburgh.  Clinton  W.  Kellum.  Ro- 
land T.  Hull. 

The  list  of  i)astors  is  as  follows:  Rev.  Ira  Condit.  1787- 
1703;  Rev.  H.  W.  Hunt.  I70.")-1802;  Rev.  Jolm  Bovd.  180.3- 
1811;  Rev.  Joseph  L.  Shafer,  1812-183o;  Rev.  Daniel  M.  Bar- 
ber. 183(5-1838;  Rev.  Joseph  L.  Shafer,  1838-1803;  Rev.  Mv- 
ron  Barrett.  1 8.54 -1 8.1 1);  Rev.  Geo.  S.  Mott.  18.50-1808;  Rev. 
Theodore  L.  Bvington.  18li0-1874:  Rev.  .).  Addison  Priest. 
D.  D..  187-5-1880;  Rev.  Eugene  C.  Olney.  1880-1884:  Rev. 
Alexander  H.  Young.  D.  D.,  1884-1802;  Rev.  Samuel  Car- 
lisle, D.  D..  1802-1002;  Rev.  Clarence  W.  Pvouse.  1003—. 

OXFORD  FIRST. 

This  church  first  a])i)ears  in  history  in  1730  when  the 
peo])le  in  the  neighborhood  of  Oxford  l-'urnace  asked  the 
Presbytery  of  Xew  Brunswick  for  supplies  of  i)reaching 
along  with  (ireenwich  and  Washington.  Iron  ore  having 
been    discovered    there,    .lonathan     {{obeson    commenced    to 


8(1  TlIK   IMJKSinTKlJV  OK  XiaV'I'OX 

erect  a  furnace  in  that  vicinity  in  1741,  and  produced  the 
first  pig  iron  on  ]\Iarch  9.  1743.  The  establishment  of  this 
industry  did  much  to  bring  inhabitants  to  the  neighbor- 
hood, and  so  large  was  the  migration  of  people  that  it  was 
necessary  in  17.")3  to  organize  a  new  township,  that  of  Ox- 
ford. 

It  is  said  that  in  174-i  llev.  James  Campbell  of  Tinicum. 
Bucks  Co.,  Pa.,  Avas  among  the  people  and  baptized  chil- 
dren.-■'As  near  as  can  be  ascertained,  some  time  between 
1739  and  1744  an  organization  was  effected  and  a  log  church 
built  at  or  near  the  site  of  the  present  First  Oxford  Church. 

As  David  Brainerd  came  to  the  Forks  of  Delaware  in 
1744,  it  is  supposed  that  he  preached  at  times  in  this  build- 
ing, as  also  Rev.  Messrs.  Daniel  Lawrence,  John  Cross,  John 
Clark,  Robert  Cross,  John  Boyd,  and  James  McCrea.  father 
of  Miss.  Jane  McCYea.  whose  story  is  well  known  to  history-. 

The  site  of  the  old  Oxford  meeting  house  has  been  occu- 
pied bj'  a  church  longer  than  any  other  spot  in  Warren 
County.  Other  churches  may  have  built  earlier  but  they 
no  longer  occupy  their  original  site.  Meetings  had  been 
held  for  some  years  before  any  church  was  built  and  the 
circuit  riding  minister  would  preach  now  in  this  house  now 
in  that.  There  was  great  rivalry  between  this  site  and  an- 
other at  the  cemetery  near  \yiiite  Hall.  The  vicinity  of 
the  old  Oxford  meeting  house  was  first  known  as  Uppei- 
Clreenwich  or  Creenwich  on  the  Delaware. 

On  September  .>.  1788.  the  Board  of  Trustees  directed 
that  a  carpenter  be  engaged  to  make  a  pattern  for  pews 
for  the  church,  also  that  the  people  assemble  to  choose  the 
location  of  their  seats,  and  that  each  one  should  have  his 
pew  made  according  to  the  pattern  provided. 

For  many  years  the  pastors  lived  at  Belvidere  in  a  log 
house  on  the  site  of  the  residence  of  Henry  Deshlei'. 

About  1787  the  congregation  became  incorporated, 
dames  Davison.  Robert  Hoo])s,  John  Kinney,  Abraham  Ax- 
ford.  William  Kerr,  Josiah  Mackey,  and  Josiah  Sweazy  are 
mentioned  as  taking  oaths  as  trustees.  As  near  as  can  be 
ascertained  the  elders  at  that  time  were:  Robert  Davison, 
Jacob  Howly,  William  Loder,  James  McCrawken.  Philip  Ti- 
tus, and  John  \'an  Buskirk, 

Dec.  4,  1799,  Washington  <lied,  and  a  memorial  service 
was  held  in  the  Oxford  church.  At  tlie  same  time  a  tall, 
tapering.  four-s(|uaie  monument  of  Avood  was  erected, 
which  stood  for  manv  years. 


TIIK  PUKSinTKUV  OF  XKWTOX  87 

About  1800  a  now  buildiiij:  wus  erected,  fioiitiii«i  south, 
Imilt  of  timbers,  and  entered  by  two  doors,  A  gallery  ex- 
tended around  three  sides  of  the  room;  the  old-fashioned 
high  pulpit  was  reached  by  narrow  stairs;  and  over  all 
were  the  canopy  and  sounding  board. 

(>n  Nov.  18,  1834,  four  elders  and  37  members  were  dis- 
missed from  the  church  to  form  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Belvidere.  That  left  liut  one  ruling  elder  in  the 
church,  Elder  -lohn  Clark.  The  pastor,  Mr.  Caiulee.  also 
went  to  the  Belvidere  church. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Kev.  James  McWilliams  a  par- 
sonage was  purchased  from  Elder  Hiels  for  $400,  and  imme- 
diately an  addition  was  made  thereto  costing  $1,000.  Dur- 
ing his  ministry  also,  in  1844,  a  small  chapel  ^^as  erected 
at  Oxford  Eurnace  and  preaching  services  and  a  Sunday 
Schodl  Avere  established  there. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Rev,  Erederick  Knighton,  D,  D., 
who  by  the  way  wa<  never,  throughout  the  nineteen  years 
of  his  ministry  there,  installed,  the  present  brick  edifice 
was  erected.  It  followed  the  frame  structure  that  many 
years  before  had  taken  the  place  of  the  original  log  church. 

In  18G3  tlu^  churdi  sent  forth  21  of  her  members  to 
form  the  Oxford  Second  Presbyterian  Church  at  Oxford 
Eurnace. 

In  1009  the  church  edifice  was  handsomely  refurnished 
and  a  steam  heat  ami  an  acetylene  lighting  plant  installed. 

Conspicuous  among  the  eldership  were  John  Clark,  who 
served  from  as  early  as  1804  to  1842,  and  his  namesake, 
John  Clarke  Prall,  who  became  elder  sometime  between 
1803  and  1873  (the  record  has  been  lost)  and  has  served 
faithfully  up  to  the  present  time. 

The  church  was  well  renu^mbered  by  John  I.  Blair  in  a 
very  hel])ful  endowment  of  many  thousands  of  dollars. 
'1  he  present  membership  is  100. 

The  list  of  pastors  is  as  follows:  Ke\-.  John  Rosebrough, 
175.)-1709;  Kev.  Asa  Dunham;  Rev.  David  Baiclay,  LSOo- 
1812;  Rev,  (larner  A.  Hunt,  1814;  Rev.  l^muel  F.  Leake. 
1810-1820 ;  Rev.  Sylvester  (iraham,  1820-1828;  Rev.  Isaac 
X.  Candee,  1829-1834;  Rev.  Robert  Love,  183.1-1838;  Rev. 
James  McWilliams,  1842-1853:  Rev.  Erederick  Knighton. 
I).  D.,  18.34- 1873;  liev.  John  E.  Pollock.  1874-1883;  Rev.  S, 
Xye  Hutchison,  1883-1900;  Rev.  W.  B.  Sheddon,  1900-1904; 
Rev.  Robert  Robinson,  D.  D,,  190.>-1912;  Rev.  Richardson 
Gray,  M.  D.,  1914-191.);  Rev,  Samuel  B.  Cooper,  Pli.  D., 
191.5—. 


88  THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  XEWTOX 


OXFORD  SECOND. 

This  church  was  organized  -May  8,  18G3.  with  about  50 
members.  It  was  originally  a  mission  station  of  Oxford 
1,  but  situated  about  four  miles  distant.  The  original  Ses- 
sion was  S.  T.  Scranton,  Henry  A.  Kingsbury,  Charles 
Scranton.  The  trustees  were:  Elisha  Beers.  S.  T.  Scranton, 
Wm.  Stout  and  John  Jones. 

ThiT?  church,  which  originally  worshipped  in  a  school - 
house,  occupied  later  a  stone  building  then  erected  one  of 
l)rick  about  I860  at  a  cost  of  $20,000. 

The  longest  pastorate  was  that  of  Rev.  E.  Clark  Cline, 
who  served  the  church  about  twenty-one  years.  He  was 
efficient  always  and  greatly  endeared  himself  to  his  people. 
The  present  Eldership  is  as  follows:  X.  A.  Jones,  L.  T. 
Stinson,  Abram  Pittenger  and  E.  H.  ^Vard. 

The  list  of  pastors  is  as  follows:  Isaiah  B.  Hopwood, 
1863-1866;  E.  Clarke  Cline.  1866-1887;  Irving  Maxwell  1887- 
1895;  Wm.  J.  Mewhinney.  1901-1906:  Geo.  R.  Merrill.  lOOC)- 
1909;  F.  B.  Schoonover,  1910-1914:  W.  A.  AA'ager.  1915— 

The  church  has  given  two  memliers  to  the  mission  field, 
one  of  them  to  Japan. 

PHILLIPSBURG  FIRST. 

This  church  was  organized  Dec.  13,  1853.  by  a  committee 
of  the  Presbytery  of  Xewton.  in  "The  Academy"  which  was 
the  old  "'X'^o.  1  School  Building."  the  site  now  occupied  by 
the  Sitgreaves  School  Building  at  Brainard  and  Hudson 
Sts.  Three  elders  were  elected:  John  Lander,  Benjamin 
Burwell,  and  John  C.  Bennett.  The  deacons  elected  were: 
Thomas  Reese,  and  Robert  Dempster. 

In  those  days  there  were  no  luxurious  cushioned  seats; 
the  room  was  not  brilliantly  lighted  nor  even  comfortable. 
A  stove.  Avith  a  long  pipe  running  around  one  end  of  the 
room,  an<l  out  of  a  window.  Avas  the  means  of  heating.  The 
room  was  dimly  lighted  by  candles  and  smoky  oil  lamps. 
The  presiding  clergyman  had  both  a  lamp  and  a  candle  for 
himself.  As  to  instrumental  music  there  was  none.  A  ^Ir. 
Hulsizer,  who  possessed  a  fine  voice,  started  the  singing 
with  the  aid  of  a  tuning  fork.  Services  were  held  moiiiing 
and  evening  and  sometimes  afternoons.  Students  from 
Lafayette  College  were  persistent  workers. 


THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  XE\VTOX  89 

Next  a  new  church  was  built  and  dedicated  on  Sept.  12, 
1858.  In  it  the  choir  occupied  the  center  of  the  gallery. 
Where  the  organ  now  stands  was  an  enormous  bay  window 
in  the  center  of  which  stood  a  red  velvet  sofa  and  on  either 
side  a  hioh -backed  chair. 

In  1808  came  an  outpouring  of  the  Spirit  of  God  after 
which  72  persons  united  with  the  church.  At  a  congrega- 
tional meeting  -lune  24.  1868,  it  was  resolved  that  the  ses- 
sion of  the  church  be  appointed  to  secure  a  parsonage. 
About  a  $1,000  was  subscribed,  and  the  parsonage  was  com- 
])leted  in  December. 

A  great  temperance  work  was  carried  on  during  the 
next  three  years,  and  many  victims  of  drink  were  saved. 
Aj)ril  20.  1873,  Howell  Sunday  School  (now  known  as  Xorth 
End  ^lission)  Avas  organized,  with  ^o  persons,  20  of  them 
being  from  the  Home  School.  This  school  grew  rapidh^  un- 
der the  superintendency  of  ^Ir.  Charles  Davis.  A  third 
Sunday  School  was  organized,  which  proved  to  be  the  nu- 
cleus for  the  later  organization  of  the  present  Westmin- 
ster Church.  Aliout  this  time  -a  splendid  pipe  organ  was 
])rocured  mainly  through  the  efforts  of  the  pastor,  Mr. 
Townsend. 

In  1883  the  parsonage  was  sold,  and  the  church  was  re- 
])orted  free  from  debt.  April  14,  188G.  the  Piesbytery  ap- 
pointed a  committee  to  organize  the  Westminster  Church, 
and  4.")  members  of  the  First  Church  united  with  the  new 
organization. 

The  Elders  are  Lafayette  R.  Amey,  James  Drake.  John 
Swackhammer.  Hervev  J.  Shinier,-  Edwin  J.  Brooks,  Robert 
P.  Howell. 

The  list  of  pastors  is  as  follows:  Rev.  Smith  Sturges. 
18r)5-1850;  Rev.  James  Y.  Mitchell.  1857-?;  Rev.  James  Pe- 
trie,  18(52-?;  Rev.  Henrv  B.  Townsend.  1807-1887;  Rev.  E. 
:\lorris  Furguson,  1880-1802:  Rev.  Alfred  X.  Raven.  1802- 
1805;  Rev.  Percv  Y.  Schelly.  1800-1000:  Rev.  Joseph  H.  Col- 
clough,  1000-1012;  Rev.  Wm.  Brower  Johnson,  1013-1017. 

PHILLIPSBURG  WESTMINSTER. 

This  church  was  organized  April  27  ISSO.  in  what  was 
then  known  as  Dull's  Hall  on  C  hambers  St..  below  Hudson. 
There  were  40  charter  members  and  the  following  persons 
were  elected  to  serve  as  ruling  elders:  Jacob  Hamlin.  James 
D.  Smith,  Peter  W.  Stone. 


<)()  .    THK  PlJ^:sB^•TKKV  of  nkwtox 

The  church  Avas  the  outgrowth  of  work  started  in  the 
year  1869,  kiioAvn  as  Tlie  Phillipsbura  Union  Sabbath 
School  with  ]\lr.  Samuel  Baker,  Sr.,  as  Superintendent,  and 
meetino-  at  the  home  of  Stephen  Frace  on  Chambers  St. 
After  a  break  the  work  was  again  taken  up  and  the  school 
reorganized  ^lay  17.  1874.  under  the  name  of  Third  Ward 
Second  Presbyterian  Sal)bath  School.  The  work  at  this 
time  was  under  the  care  of  the  First  1^-esbyterian  Church. 

April  29,  1880.  a  eongregatiojial  meeting  was  held  at 
which  the  following  trustees  were  elected:  Dr.  J.  H.  Grif- 
fith. Messrs.  Samuel  B.  Burwell.  Isaac  P.  Carpenter  Samuel 
W.  Welles.  William  H.  Mann.  Job  -1.  :Moore.  and  Frank  B. 
Heckman.    At  this  time  the  church  was  also  incorporated. 

April  27,  1887,  steps  were  taken  to  secure  the  lot  now 
occupied  by  the  church.  $100  was  paid  thereon,  an  archi- 
tect was  secured,  a  building  committee  formed  and  ground 
was  broken  for  the  building  June  9.  1888.  The  building- 
was  completed  and  the  Sunday-  School  room  furnished  ami 
used  for  the  first  time.  August  31.  1890. 

The  main  auditorium  was  completed,  fuinished.  and 
used  for  the  first  time  Dec.  10,  1893.  and  the  church  was 
dedicated  Sept.  21,  1902.  In  connection  with  the  original 
church  property,  a  property  adjacent  lias  been  secured  and 
paid  for  which  will  be  used  sooner  or  later  for  extending 
the  Sunday  School  room.  Also,  ground  has  been  bought 
and  a  })arsonage  erected  thereon  where  the  pastor  has  been 
housed  since  Dec.  1907.  Upon  this  property  rests  an  in- 
debtedness of  $3o00.  But  for  this  the  whole  property  of 
the  church,  valued  at  $2o.900.  is  free  of  debt. 

The  church  has  now  448  communicants.  In  addition  to 
the  three  original  elders,  the  active  elders  are  as  follows: 
Job  J.  Moore,  Wm.  H.  Souders.  (earner  H.  Cline.  Fred  C. 
Cook.  Flovd  Dreisbach.  Erwin  Gruver.  James  P.  Ijommer- 
son,  Howard  Fritts,  and  Paul  C.  Meliek. 

In  the  thirty  and  more  vears  of  its  life  the  church  has 
had  but  two  pastors:  Rev.  E.  Clark  Cline,  1887-1903;  Rev. 
James  Moore,  1903-.  Mr.  Cline  after  retiring  from  the  ac- 
tive pastorate  was  chosen  Pastor  Emeritus,  remaining  with 
the  Westminster  Church  until  the  time  of  his  de])arture 
from  this  life,  August  20.  191G. 


THK  PKKSP.VrKin'  OF  XKWrOX  91 

SPARTA. 

This  church,  one  of  tlie  earliest  in  northwestern  New 
Jersey,  was  orjianized  Xov.  'I'A.  178(5.  at  the  dwelling  house 
of  Robert  Ogden.  Esq.,  in  Haidyston.  The  church  Mas  at 
this  time  incorp<n-ated  and  the  following  trustees  elected: 
Kohert  Ogden,  Escj..  Charles  Reanlsleo.  Esq..  Japhet  Byrani. 
Tliomas  VanKirk.  Es(j..  Christopher  Hoag;land.  Esq..  Chris- 
topher Longstreet,  Robert  Ogden.  Jr..  Escj. 

The  ciiurch  building  was  for  some  years  a  mere  shell  of 
frame  roofed  and  weather  boarded  Avith  roughly  hewn  seats 
for  the  worshippers.  The  galleries  and  steeple  were  added 
about  1804.  The  original  timbers  remain  to  this  day  in 
sound  condition.  In  1837  the  church  was  repaired  at  a  (^1st 
of  $l.oOO;  and  a  second  time  in  18G9  at  a  cost  of  $4,000. 

In  1811  there  was  a  missionary  tour  of  the  Delaware 
Valley  made  by  Mr.  Ezekiel  Glasgow  under  the  direction  of 
the  Ceneral  Assembly.  His  instructions  were:  ''To  pursue 
his  course  till  he  reach  the  New  York  line,  and  thence  to 
advance  till  he  arrive  at  a  congregation  at  Sparta  and  Dan- 
ville, Avhere  he  may  spend  as  much  time  as  the  congrega- 
tion will  allow  him  compensation  for."  In  1812  Col.  Aaron 
Ogden  of  the  Sparta  congregation  was  elected  Governor  of 
New  Jersev,  having  also  served  as  United  States  Senator 
from  1801-1803. 

In  November  1832  the  parsonage  was  purchased.  The 
present  members  of  session  are:  Eugene  E.  Corey.  George 
B,  Fisher,  Theodore  G.  Anderson,  Eugene  R.  Smith,  Martin 
Spoolstra.  and  Robeit  Evans.  Samuel  E.  Darling,  an  ac- 
tive elder,  died  Jan.  17,  1914,  aged  91  years. 

The  list  of  pastors  is  as  follows:  Rev.  Hollowav  W. 
Hunt.  1795-1802;  Rev.  Barnabas  King,  I8O0-I8O8;  Oliver 
Green,  1810;  Rev.  Joseph  L.  Shafer.  1812-1815;  Rev.  Noah 
Crane.  1816-1830;  Rev.  Moses  .lewell,  S.  S..  1830-1832;  Rev. 
James  Wvckoff,  1832-1835:  Rev.  Ezra  F.  Davton.  1830-1838: 
Rev.  Wn"i.  Torry.  1839-1 84();  Rev.  Nathaniel  E.  Pierson, 
184(5-1849:  Rev.  Wm.  Mauie.  one  vear:  Rev.  Daniel  Hiabv. 
18.12-1855 ;  Rev.  L.  Willard.  S.  S..". 1850-18(50:  Rev.  Wni.  L 
Moore,  18(50-1801:  Rev.  Francis  E.  M.  Bachelcr.  18(54-1870: 
Rev.  Robert  S.  Feagles.  S.  S.  1870-1871;  Rev.  Wm.  B.  :Mc- 
Kee;  Rev.  John  S.  Haima.  S.  S.,  187(M877;  Rev.  Thomas 
Tvack,  1878-1884;  Rev.  T.  F.  Chambers,  1884-1887;  Rev. 
Baker  Smith.  D.  D..  1887-1891;  Rev.  Wm.  Hollingshed. 
1897-1900;  Rev.  Jonathan  Greenleaf.  1900-190(5:  Rev."  I.  P. 
EnuM-ick.  1907-1908;  Rev.  Mr.  Becker.  1909-1910;  Rev.  Wm. 
Johiistoi).  1910-. 


92  THE  PPvESBYTEEY  OF  XEWTOX 


STANHOPE. 

This  church  was  organized  June  11,  1838  by  a  commit- 
tee of  Newark  Presbytery  with  27  members,  all  of  whom 
were  received  by  certificate  from  the  Siiceas^vuina  Church. 
The  original  elders  were:  Jos.  W.  Manning  and  Hiram  ^fil- 
ler.    The  church  was  incorporated  January  30,  1839. 

As  early  as  1837  Rev.  James  C.  Moore  of  Succasunna 
Plains'  had  preached  occasionally  in  the  Stanhope  School - 
house.  The  first  church  edifice  was  erected  in  1844  at  a 
cost  of  $2,000.     It  was  a  frame  building,  dedicated  Jan.    1 

184.5,  free  of  debt. 

• 

In  1843  two  ^Mormon  priests  appeared  in  the  village. 
Among  others,  four  members  of  this  church  embraced  the 
Mormon  faith.  But  popular  indignation  drove  the  priests 
from  the  town  and  almost  all  their  converts  recanted. 

About  1804  a  pipe  organ,  costing  about  $600,  was  placed 
in  the  church.  During  the  ministry  of  Rev.  James  Morton, 
which  began  in  1807,  the  church  edifice  was  enlarged  and 
beautified  at  an  expense  of  about  $3,000.  The  basement  of 
the  church  was  also  at  this  time  fitted  up  for  a  Sunday 
School  room. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Di-.  Boardman  a  deep  work  of 
grace  took  place.  In  1884  a  commodious  manse  was  built 
at  an  expense  of  about  $2,500.  exclusive  of  the  lot.  April 
26,  1886,  a  Y.  P.  S.  C.  E.  was  organized  at  the  manse.  In 
1896  the  Ladies'  Missionary  Society  was  organized,  and  in 
1898,  the  Ladies'  Financial  Aid  Society. 

In  1901  the  church  edifice  was  repaired  at  an  expense  of 
$2,600.  Reopening  services  took  place  July  16.  In  the 
summer  of  1915.  the  Sunday  School  room  and  kitchen  in 
the  basement  of  the  church  were  repaired  and  modernized 
at  an  expense  of  $750. 

The  present  membership  of  the  church  is  112,  more  than 
double  what  it  was  when  the  present  pastor  came,  twelve 
years  ago.  116  persons  have  been  received  during  that 
time. 

The  present  elders  are:  Silas  E.  King.  Owen  W.  King, 
and  C'has.  D.  Wolfe. 

The  list  of  pastors  is  as  follows:  Rev.  Enos  A.  Osborne. 
S.  S...  1840-1843;  Rev.  Nathaniel  Elmer,  S.  S.,  1843-1844: 
Rev.  John  Ward.  P.,  1845-1848;  Rev.  Ashael  Bronson,  1849- 


THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  XEWTOX  93 

1851;  Rev.  Oliver  \V.  Norton,  S.  S.,  1852-1854;  Rev.  Robert 
Crosset,  1856-1858;  Rev.  O.  H.  P.  Devo,  S.  S.  1859-1863; 
Rev.  CTias.  Milne,  S.  S.  1863-1866;  Rev.  Jas.  Morton,  1867- 
1870;  Rev.  John  J.  Crane,  1870-1880:  Rev.  J.  W.  Porter, 
1881-1883;  Rev.  S.  ^V.  Boardman,  D.  D.,  1883-1889;  Rev.  J. 
H.  Condit.  1890-1894;  Rev.  E.  K.  Donaldson,  1896-1900; 
Rev.  Benjamin  J.  Morgan,  1901-1904:  Rev.  X.  P.  Grouse, 
1905-. 


STEWARTSVILLE. 

This  church  was  founded  in  1850.  It  developed  out  of 
meetings  held  in  the  old  academy  every  two  weeks  and  con- 
ducted by  the  ])astors  of  the  (Jreenwich  PresVjyterian 
Church  and  the  St.  James  Lutheran  Church.  ^leetings  held 
every  fortnight,  however,  did  not  satisfy  the  religious  needs 
of  the  town,  and  the  people  decided  to  have  a  house  of  wor- 
ship of  their  own.  $2,400  Avas  contributed,  and  the  lot  on 
which  the  church  now  stands  was  given  l)y  Mr.  John  Ful- 
mer.  A  building  committee  was  appointed,  and  in  a  short 
time  the  church  now  in  use  was  under  contract.  As  nearly 
as  can  be  ascertained  the  edifice  cost  $4,300. 

The  charter  members  of  the  church  numbered  76,  54 
from  the  Greenwich  Church,  nine  from  the  Scott's  Moun- 
tain Church,  and  the  others  from  other  churches.  The 
original  elders  were:  Daniel  Hulshizer  and  Robert  S.  Ken- 
nedy, formerly  elders  in  the  Greenwich  Church,  Phineas 
Barber,  and  Wm.  I.  Beers.  The  church  was  dedicated  Dec. 
10,  1850.  the  dedicatory  sermon  being  preached  by  Rev. 
John  Grey.  D.  D..  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Eas- 
ton. 

During  the  ministry  of  Rev.  Mr.  Thompson,  a  \Vomen's 
Missionary  Society,  a  Young  People's  Society  of  Christian 
P^ndeavor.  and  a  Ladies'  Aid  Society  were  established  and 
are  still  doing  good  work.  Mr.  Thompson  served  the 
church  with  great  faithfulne^^s  for  34  years.  Amongst  his 
own  |)eople  and  in  the  commmiity  he  was  greatly  esteemed 
for  his  unaffected  pU'ty  and  goodne-s. 

Although  the  church  has  felt  the  drift  of  young  people 
from  the  country  to  the  city  in  a  very  marked  degree,  it 
has  held  its  own  and  is  as  prosperous  numerically  and  fi- 
nanciallv  to-dav  as  at  anv  time  in  its  historv. 


«)4  THE  PRESBYTErvY  OE  XEWTOX 

The  present  session  is  as  foIloAvs:  Cliarles  Oberly,  -Tohn 
S.  Stone  Asher  W.  Dilts.  and  John  C.  Boyer.  The  church 
])roperty,  consisting  of  house  of  worship  and  manse,  is  en- 
tirely free  from  debt. 

The  list  of  pastors  is  as  follows:  Rev.  C.  Busch,  1851- 
1802:  Rev.  Samuel  M.  Studdiford.  18G2-180G;  Rev.  Wm. 
Laurie,  18G0-1872:  Rev.  \Vm.  Thompson.  1873-1907;  Rev. 
James  Ferouson.  1007-. 

STILLWATER. 

This  church  was  organized  June  13.  1823,  by  a  commit- 
tee of  Newton  Presbytery,  application  havino  previously 
been  made  to  the  Classis  of  Xew  Brunswick  for  dismissal 
from  that  body.  There  were  24  charter  members,  and  the 
first  elders  were  Henry  B.  ^Yintermute  and  Isaac  Winter- 
nuite.  Tlie  church  duriny  its  early  history  seems  to  have 
been  served  partly  by  pastors  and  partly  by  missionaries. 

The  old  stone  building  in  which  the  church  was  organ- 
ized had  been  completed  in  1771  and  although  there  was  no 
definite  church  organization  on  record  at  that  time,  we  find 
that  in  1783  a  number  of  persons  signed  articles  of  faith 
under  the  name  of  the  Reformed  Association  of  Hardwick, 
within  the  bounds  of  which  township  they  resided.  This 
old  stone  building  was  used  by  the  newly -organized  Pres- 
byterian church  from  1823  to  1837  when  it  was  considered 
unsafe  and  a  new  frame  church  was  erected  a  half  mile  dis- 
tant and  nearer  to  the  center  of  tlie  village,  at  a  cost  of 
$2200.  The  congregation  worshipped  in  a  school  building 
until  it  was  finislied.  The  old  stone  edifice  stood  \uioccu- 
pied  for  ten  years. until  in  1847  it  Avas  torn  down. 

Xotable  among  the  pastorates  at  Stillwater  was  that 
of  Rev.  T.  B.  Condit  who  occupied  the  pulpit  for  44  years. 
Dr.  Junkin  wittily  said  of  him  that  "although  the  waters 
were  not  always  still  around  him.  his  talents,  piety  and 
address  have  weathered  every  gale." 

The  present  eldership  is  as  follows:  J.  Hampton  Roy, 
Oeorge  L.  Lewis,  Edward  W.  Smith,  Lewis  C.  Westbrook. 

The  list  of  pastors  is  as  follows:    Rev.  B.  I.  Lowe.  1823- 

1829;    Rev.  Thomas  McDermot;  1834-183fi;  Rev.  T.  B.  Condit, 

1839-1881;  Rev.  John  P.  Clark,  1881-1896;  Rev.  D.  L.  Jones: 

"Rev.  A.  M.  Higgins,  1903-?;  Rev.  J.  D.  Hillman.  1909-1914; 

Rev.  D.  H.  Rolnobauuh.  1915-. 


THE  PRESBYTERY  OF  XEWTOX  95 

SUSSEX. 

This  church  was  organized  May  1.  1839,  in  the  village 
then  known  as  Decl<ertown.  by  a  committee  of  the  Presby- 
tery of  Newark,  under  the  name  of  tlie  Third  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Wantage.  There  were  28  members — l,i  men  and 
l.'J  women.  The  elders  elected  were:  J^eAvis  Whittaker,  da- 
cob  H.  Beemer,  and  Horton  Beemer. 

It  appears  in  the  records  that  Rev.  George  Pierson  was 
invited  and  acted  as  temporary  Stated  Supply.  Among  the 
very  earliest  interests  of  the  church  was  the  support  of 
Foreign  and  Home  Missions.  American  BiMe  and  Tract  So- 
ciety, by  order  of  the  session,  June  12,  1839. 

The  most  notable  pastorate  has  been  that  of  Rev.  Mr. 
Hamilton,  the  present  pastor.  He  has  twice  served  this 
congregation,  the  two  terms  of  service  covering  a  period  of 
34  years.  Dining  his  time  there  have  been  adfled  to  the 
church  217  persons.  Burials  have  reached  approximately 
430  in  number.  Sonu^  80  marriages  have  been  recorded. 
The  pastorates  have  enjoyed  two  or  three  gracious  revivals. 
The  one  characteristic  of  the  church  life  has  been  its  peace 
and  fellowship. 

The  material  im])rovements.  the  dismissal  of  many 
young  persons  to  the  cities,  carrying  with  them  the  impres- 
sions of  gospel  truths,  have  evidenced  the  success  of  ^Ir. 
Hamilton's  labors.  He  is  now  ministering  to  the  fifth 
generation,  has  in  large  measure  fellowshipped  Avith  three 
sessions  Avho  have  seived  the  churcn  on  earth  and  entered 
into  their  reward. 

It  has  fallen  to  him  at  the  beginning  of  each  pastorate 
to  preach  the  memorial  sermon  for  his  revered  predecessors. 
A  pastorate  that  dates  back  44  A'^ears  or  nearly  half  a  ceii- 
tury  through  the  changes  of  social,  economical,  and  politi- 
cal life,  and  has  been  marked  for  the  steady  stieams  of 
truth,  and  the  great  principles  of  religion  consciously  or  un- 
consciously forming  convictions  for  the  better  life  is  Avor- 
thy  of  record  for  the  name  and  glory  of  the  master. 

The  list  of  pastors  is  as  folloAvs:  Rev.  .James  ^V.  ^Vood. 
1839-1844:  Rev.  A.  D.  Rich.  184()-1847:  Rev.  B.  Farrind. 
1848-1854;  Wm.  H.  Babbitt,  1855-18riG;  Rev.  Peter  Kanouse, 
185(i-18«2;  Rev.  O.  H.  P.  Devo,  Supply.  1804;  Rev.  Peter 
TeniloAv.  1804-1807;  Rev.  X.  Elmer.  1808-1809;  Rev.  J.  Mc- 
Williams,  1809-1873;  Rev.  Edgar  A.  Plamilton.  1873-1882; 
Rev.  J.  W.  Coleman.  1882-1880:  Rev.  Alexander  McAllister 
Thorburn.  1887-1893;  Rev.  Edgar  A.  Hamilton.  1893-1917. 


OG  THF<:  PRESBYTERY  OF  XEV.TOX 


WANTAGE  FIRST. 

This  church,  located  well  up  on  the  Clove,  is  one  of  the 
historic  cluirches  of  tlie  Presbytery  and  was  organized  as  a 
Presbyterian  Church.  Aug.  11.  1818.  Avith  2.")  members,  12 
men  and  18  women. 

It  was  the  result  of  the  labors  of  the  Rev.  Elias  Van 
BunsclTOoten,  who  ministeied  to  the  three  Dutcli  churches  on 
the  north  side  of  the  Kittatinny  mountain,  and  found  time 
also  to  look  after  the  needs  of  tlie  people  living  to  the 
south.  A  petition  dated  Aug.  21.  1787.  was  sent  to  the 
Classis  of  Xew  Brunswick  of  the  Dutch  Church,  and  on 
August  27,  that  body  granted  an  organization.  Twenty- 
five  men  and  25  Avomen  comj)osed  the  church;  they  wor- 
shipped at  first  in  a  barn:  and  Mr.  Van  Bunschooten  was 
their  pastor. 

For  a  time  he  served  them  in  conjunction  with  the  tlnee 
upper  churches  in  the  Minisink  country  but  in  1792  he  re- 
moved and  made  his  home  at  the  Clove  or  First  Wantage 
church.  Here  he  labored  until  1812.  when  he  laid  down  his 
work  and  three  years  later  died.  After  his  death  the  church 
by  vote  of  its  members  disbanded  as  a  Dutch  church  and  as 
we  have  seen  was  organized  into  a  Presbyterian  chuicli. 
During  the  time  ^Ir.  Kanousc  was  pastor  there  were  two 
revivals  resulting  in  the  addition  of  one  hundred  sixty- 
three  members.  So  marked  was  the  success  of  the  work 
tliat  by  1833  tliere  were  five  hundred  and  twelve  members 
in  the  church.  On  Aug.  1st  1836,  the  parsonage  was  burned 
and  with  it  the  church  records  thus  blotting  out  all  oflficial 
information  as  to  the  internal  workings  of  the  congrega- 
tion. It  has  had  a  long  and  honorable  history  but  of  late 
years  has  not  been  able  to  support  a  pastoi-.  students  from 
Princeton  having  filled  the  pul])it  during  the  summer 
montlis  until  ^lay,  1916.  when  Rev.  Jos.  ^Iclnnes.  pastor  of 
tlie  Cnionville.  X.  Y..  Presbyterian  church  was  engaged  and 
noAv  holds  services  every  Siuiday  afternoon   at  two  o'clock. 

This  church  oiiginally  occupied  a  log  building  but  about 
1830  the  i)resent  edifice  was  erected,  a  fiame  structure  witli 
a  gallery  acif»ss  one  end  and  two  sides. 

The  com])lete  list  of  eldership  is  as  follows:  Steven 
Titsworth.  John  Smith,  John  Stiles.  Braddock  Decker,  An- 
drew  ^IcXish.   David   Slawson.   .Matthew   Cooper  Jacob  Do- 


THK  PKKSliVTEllV  OF  XKWTOX  07 

Witt,  .John  Tit.sworth,  J.  S.  DeWitt.  ^^'.  \\'.  Titswortli.  E. 
X.  Milieu,  L.  C.  Davenport,  and  Louis  Harden.  The  latter 
two  are  now  active. 

The  list  of  pastors  is  as  follows:  Rev.  (xershom  Wil- 
liams. 1S18-1821;  Pvev.  Edward  Allen,  1821-1830;  Rev.  Pe- 
ter Kanouse,  1830-1834;  Kev.  (ieor^e  I'ierson.  1835-?;  Kev. 
Anthonv  MeKevnolds.  1839-18.34:  Kev.  Sylvester  Cooke, 
1844-1872:  Rev.^  L,  T.  Shuler,  1873-1875;  T.  F.  Chambers. 
1870-1883;  Jos.  Xelson.  1885;  Rev.  J.  C.  Cronach.  1889-1893: 
Samuel  F.  Bacon.  1893-1895;  S.  M.  Jordan  1890;  Rev.  Ed- 
ward Snyder,  1898-1902;  Allen  Baillie,  1903;  Stacey  L.  Rob- 
erts, 1905;  Rev.  Joseph  Mclnnes,  (Stated  Supply)  1910-. 
Messrs.  Jordan.  Baillie  and   Roberts  were  student   supplies. 

WASHINGTON  OR  MANSFIELD  WOODHOUSE. 

This  church  in  which  Xewton  Pre<b\  tery  A\as  oruanized 
one  hundred  years  ago  first  appears  in  history  in  1739  when 
su])j)lies  of  preaching  were  sent  to  "Mr.  Barber's  neighbor- 
hood, near  Museonnekunk."  A  church  building  of  logs  was 
erected  about  the  same  time  that  churches  were  built  at 
Creenwich  and  Oxford.  This  was.  as  near  as  can  be  ascer- 
tained, between  1739  and  1744.  In  this  building  the  early 
preachers  exercised  their  gifts.  It  is  likely  that  the  church 
was  organized  about  the  time  the  building  was  erected.  It 
was  designated  "Mr.  Barber's"  until  1754.  Then.  Mansfield 
townshij)  being  set  ofl'  from  Greenwich,  the  church  took  the 
name  of  the  township. 

The  first  Presbyterian  pastorate  in  all  northwestern 
X'^ew  Jersey  was  that  of  Rev.  John  Rosebrough,  over  the 
(ireenwich.  Washington  or  ^Mansfield  Woodhouse.  and  Ox- 
ford churches. 

in  1780.  the  trustees  adopted  as  '"a  device  for  said  con- 
gregation, the  dove  with  the  olive  branch."  In  1787  the 
old  log  church  was  found  to  need  extensive  repairs.  In  a 
few  years  however  the  people  felt  the  need  of  a  better 
house  of  worship.  It  was  decided  to  build  this  second  edi- 
fice upon  the  old  site.  The  material  was  to  be  stone  and 
the  size  of  the  building  45  by  35  feet.  The  structure  does 
not  seem  to  have  been  completed  until  about  1801. 

In  1817  the  Presbytery  of  Xewton  was  organized  in  the 
Mansfield  church.  The  elders  at  this  time  were  John  Eve- 
land,  John  McKinney.  I^benezrr  StiNon.  (ieorge  \'nn  Xest. 
John  \'aii   Xest.  and  "llenrv   M.  Winler. 


08  TIIK  PUKSm'TKKV  OF  XK\\"r()X 

May  18,  1822.  the  oliiireh  became  incorporated  under  the 
name  of  the  "]\Iansfield  Presbyterian  Church,"  thus  drop- 
phio  the  original  term  of  Mansfield  Woodhouse. 

Oct.  25,  1825.  John  B.  Parke  sold  one  and  eighteen  hun- 
dred acres  to  the  congregation  for  the  purpose  of  enlarging 
the  graveyard.  This  was  the  John  B.  Parke  who  was  one 
of  the  victims  of  the  foul  murder  at  Changewater,  May  1, 
1843. 

In  183()  it  was  determined  to  erect  a  new  house  of  Avor- 
ship  and  after  much  discussion  it  was  decided  to  remove 
from  the  old  site  and  go  to  Washington.  There  a  brick 
structure  50  by  80  feet  was  erected  in  1837.  on  land  given 
by  Gershom  Rusling  comprising  about  an  acre  and  a  half. 

The  lot  for  a  parsonage  was  purchased  in  18()0  for  $300. 
In  1869  an  ailjoining  lot  on  the  west  was  purchased  for 
$225  and  added  to  the  parsonage  property,  the  grounds  now 
embracing  six-tenths  of  an  acre.  A  portion  of  this  land 
was  subsequently  sold  and  the  remainder  is  the  present 
})arsonage  on  West  Washington  Ave. 

Shortly  after  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  ^^'ar,  in  1862, 
file  destroyed  the  church.  But  the  members,  mostly  farm- 
ers went  heroically  to  work  and  after  much  personal  work 
and  stringent  self  sacrifice,  they  in  18(53-64  erected  the 
present  spacious  and  beautiful  structure. 

During  the  j)astorate  of  Pev.  Mr.  Webster  the  Ladies' 
Aid  Societ}'  was  organized.  It  was  largely  through  the  un- 
tiring eflForts  of  this  society  that  the  spacious  and  well- 
e([uipped  chapel  was  built.  IXiring  the  first  twenty  years 
of  its  existence  the  sjdendid  sum  of  $0,225  was  raised. 

fn  1877  the  name  of  the  church  was  changed  by  an  act 
of  the  Legislature  to  "the  l<Mrst  Presbvterian  Church  of 
WashiT.gton.  X.  .1.- 

During  the  i)astoiate  of  Rev.  ^Ir.  England  extensive  im- 
|»i()vements  were  made  to  the  interior  of  the  church.  The 
gallery  was  remodeled,  the  choir  changed  from  the  gallery 
in  the  rear  to  a  place  in  the  front  on  the  left  of  the  put- 
pit,  the  seats  elevated,  the  beautiful  organ  now  in  use  in- 
stalled, and  the  church  lecaipeted.  In  addition  to  the  gen- 
erosity of  the  members  which  made  this  possible,  the  La- 
dies' Aid  Society  subscribed  the  sum  of  $2,000.  The  com- 
plete and  convenient  kitchen  attached  to  the  chapel  was 
provided  by  the  society  in  the  fall  of  1800  at  a  cost  of  $015. 
Jhiring  the  present  j)astorate  the  church  has  been  frescoed 
and  a  new  slate  roof  ])hic('(l  on  the  building. 


THK  Pl(KSI5VTKrvV  OF  XKWTOX  99 

The  fhurc'h  has  eiijoyetl  many  seasons  of  lefieshiug,  a 
notable  revival  having  been  eondncted  by  the  Rev.  B.  Fay 
Mills  during  the  ministry  of  Dr.  Xott.  Owing  to  the  re- 
moval of  many  members  from  the  community  the  session 
deemed  it  wise  to  purge  the  roll.  ^\  hereby  12.")  names  were 
placed  on  the  reserve  list  in  1913.  thus  lowering  the  mem- 
lu'iship  to  .')24. 

The  church  is  now  enjoying  an  era  of  j)rosperity;  there 
has  been  during  the  present  pastf)rate  a  healthy  growth  in 
membership:  tlie  present  em-ollment  is  about  o8(>. 

There  are  a  number  of  important  and  busy  societies 
whose  work  and  infiuence  lias  been  great,  the  Pastor's  Aid 
Society,  recently  organized  with  a  membership  of  more 
than  100,  the  Foreign  Missionary  Society  with  50  members, 
the  Christomathean  Home  Missicjn  Society  with  88  mem- 
bers, the  Alpha  Chapter  of  the  Westminster  Guild  with 
25  members,  the  Christian  Endeavor  Society,  and  the  Sun- 
day School  with  325  members. 

The  elders  are:  Sering  P.  Bowers,  George  W.  Beers, 
Robert  C.  Cook,  Albert  C.  Godfrey,  Frank  P.  McKinstrv, 
M.  D..  Frederick  N.  -leiikins,  Charles  R.  Ford,  Robert  W. 
Allen. 

The  list  of  pastors  is  as  follows:  Rev.  John  Rosebrough, 
1704-1709;  Rev.  Philip  Stockton,  1778-1781;  Rev.  Peter  Wil- 
son, 1786-1798;  Rev.  Wm.  B.  Sloan,  1798-1815;  Rev.  Samuel 
Robertson.  1815-1810;  Rev.  Jacob  R.  Castner.  1817  (?)- 
1848;  Rev.  James  Lillie,  1849-1851;  Rev.  John  Turbitt, 
1851-1852;  Rev.  Solomon  McXair,  1853-1800;  Rev.  E.  1). 
Brvan,  1801-1870;  Rev.  A.  M.  -lellv,  1870-1874;  Rev.  Samuel 
E.' Webster.  1875-1880;  Rev.  Charles  D.  Xott.  D.  D.,  1880- 
1893;  Rev.  E.  B.  England.  1894-1903;  Rev.  Frederick  W. 
Johnson,  D.  D..   1903-1913;   Rev.  J.  X.  Wageiduirst   1913-. 

YELLOW  FRAME. 

This  church  must  have  been  organized  about  1703  (for 
it  called  a  pastor  in  1764)  and  tradition  has  it  that  Rev. 
Wm.  Tennent,  Jr..  took  ])art  in  the  exercises.  Before  tlie 
division  of  the  original  Snssex  County  the  County  seat  was 
at  Johnsonsburg  where  the  ^'ellow  Frame  church  is  located. 
Here  was  built  the  jail,  and  the  place  was  named  "Log 
,)ail."  'J'here  was  a  log  church  erected  sonu'  tinu'  subse- 
(.|iu'nt  to  1740  and  the  church  was  called  rp|)er  llardwick. 


100  TTIK  rUKST^VTEin   OF  XEWTOX 

In  1782  the  township  of  Independence  was  set  off  from 
Hardwick.  and  the  Hackettstown  church,  formerly  known 
as  Lower  Hardwick.  now  took  the  name  of  "The  First 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Independence."  Upper  Hardwick, 
or  Yellow  F>ame  was  thereafter  known  simply  as  the  Hard- 
Avick  Church. 

Soon  the  subject  of  erectino  a  new  house  of  worship  was 
agitated'.  Those  livino  in  the  lower  part  of  the  parish 
Avhere  the  old  loo  church  was  located  near  Dark  ^loon  Tav- 
ern, wished  to  retain  that  site.  Those  livini>-  in  the  upper 
part  preferred  a  site  in  Shaw's  Lane.  Thus  arose  a  contro- 
versy which  required  the  intervention  of  the  Presbytery. 
The  matter  was  settled  finally.  Presbytery  sanctioned  the 
change  of  site,  and  the  Yellow  Frame  church  has  stood 
from  that  day  to  this  in  its  present  location. 

The  deed  for  the  lot  containini;  one  and  one-fifth  acres, 
was  dated  July  .1,  178o.  The  oiantor  was  Wm.  Armstrong. 
The  names  of  the  trustees  to  whom  the  property  was  con- 
veyed were  Ceorge  Allen.  Joseph  riaston,  Aaron  Hankinson. 
^^'m.  Hankinson  Alexander  Linn,  Joseph  Reader,  and  Jolin 
Koy.     The  building  Avas  completed  in  1780. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Mr.  Boyd,  a  dancing  school  was 
started,  and  his  preaching  against  it  led  to  an  unsettled 
state  of  aflfairs  wliich  resulted  in  dissolving  the  pastoral  re- 
lation. His  financial  relations  Avith  the  chiu'ch,  hoAvever. 
re([uii-ed  some  years  to  ad]ust.  April  28,  1818,  the  Presby- 
tery heard  "'from  one  of  its  members  that  the  First  Pi-esby- 
terian  fleeting  House  in  HardAvick  is  advertised  for  public 
>ale  by  the  SheritT  of  the  county  of  Sussex,  at  the  suit  of 
the  Kev.  John  Boyd  for  arrears  of  salary  due  him.'"  The 
committee  api)ointed  to  adjust  the  matter  reported  that 
"your  committee  find  a  sum  due  ^fr.  Boyd  from  the  con- 
gregation of  HardAvick  of  one  hundred  forty-tAvo  dollars 
an(l  foity -seven  cents."  Later  ^Ir.  Boyd  asked  Presby- 
tery's ])ermission  to  sell  his  judgment  against  the  church, 
which  request  Avas  refused.  By  the  year  1820,  hoAvever,  the 
affair  seems  to  have  been  amicably  settled,  and  Mr.  Boyd 
^\^\s  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Hudson. 

In  182;}  the  house  of  Elder  Aaron  Hazen  was  burned  and 
with  it  the  sessional  records  of  the  church.  April  16.  1841. 
the  congregation  became  incorporated  as  "The  First  Pres- 
byterian Churcji  of  Hardwick.'" 


THE  PRESBYI'EPvY  OF  XE\VTO\  Id! 


'J'lic  same  year  the  fOii<ire.i:ati()Ji  took  stcjjs  toward  ro- 
iiKxU'lini:  the  chureli  building.  Thi-^  buildln.u  %va^  nearly 
s(|uare  havino  entianees  on  the  south  and  east.  The  pul- 
pit was  ])laeed  on  the  west  side  of  the  audience  room  and 
was  of  the  old-fashioned  stilted  kind.  $()(X)  were  secured, 
the  doors  on  the  south  and  east  were  closed,  and  the  en- 
trance placed  in  the  north  end.  and  the  pews  and  «ialleries 
were  chano:ed.  The  work  when  completed  was  reported  to 
have  cost  $1,213. 

This  huildinii  was  replaced  in  1887  by  the  present  one. 
in  which  the  coM^ie,«:ation  still  worships,  and  was  taken 
down  in  lOO."),  ^lay  2"),  1859.  the  name  was  clianjzed  to  ''The 
^'ellow  l^ame  I^esbyterian  Church. 

The  list  of  ])astors  so  far  as  obtainable  is  as  follows: 
l\ev.  Francis  Pei)pard.  1772-1788:  Rev.  Daniel  Thatcher. 
Supply.  1784;  Rev.  Ira  Condit.  1787-1703;  John  Royd,  180.3- 
1812:  Rev.  James  (i.  Force.  (?)  1811-181(5;  Rev.  Jehiel  Tal- 
mad«.^e,  1810-1822;  Rev.  Benjamin  1.  l^we.  1824-1837;  -Mr. 
Samuel  R.  Avers.  Supplv.  1837;  .Mr.  Sherwood,  1838-1841: 
Rev.  Wm.  C.'Ma^ee.  1841-(  V);  *  ■'  *  *  Dr.  Foresman. 
1880;  Rev.  Wm.  X.  Todd,  1892;  Rev.  W.  E.  Faulkner.  LSO."); 
lU'V.  John  D.  Addy.  1898;  Rev.  Isaac  H.  Condit.  1001-101(5; 
Rev.  R.  Spencer  Youn^.  101 7-. 

The  present  elders  are:  L.  lOu^icne  Savacool.  -lames  Too- 
math.  James  ^1.  Johnson,  and  Nathan  H.  Lanniiiii. 


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